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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


33  WIST  MAIN  STREET 

WIBSTIR.N.Y.  MSSO 

(716)  •72-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
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reproduction,  oc  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


D 


D 
D 
D 
D 
D 

n 


□ 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommag^e 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  pellicul6e 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

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Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  qua  bleue  ou  noire) 


Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
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Bound  with  other  material/ 
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along  interior  margin/ 

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pas  6t6  film^es. 

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modification  dans  la  mdthode  normaie  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu6s  ci-dessous. 


I      I    Coloured  pages/ 


D 


D 
D 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmi  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
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r~~|  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

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I      I  Includes  supplementary  material/ 


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etc.,  ont  6x6  filmdes  6  nouveau  de  fapon  6 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

y 

12X 

16X 

20X 

24X 

28X 

32X 

lire 

details 
jes  du 
modifier 
jer  une 
filmage 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


L'exemplaire  film6  fut  reproduit  grice  d  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

Bibliothdque  nationale  du  Canada 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet6  de  l'exemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


i6es 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  -^(meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimie  sont  film6s  en  commenqant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration.  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film6s  en  commenpant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — ^^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE".  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


ire 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  i:}vo  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
film6s  d  des  taux  de  riductiori  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  film6  A  partir 
de  Tangle  sup^rieur  gruche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n6cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mithode. 


ly  errata 
ed  to 

int 

ne  pelure, 

iqon  d 


1  2  3 


32X 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

M 


".l^^k.. 


SARATOGA   MONUMENT. 


^. 


■3> 


MEMOIR 


OF  THE 


CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION 


OP 


3Sttrfl0gne'0  Surrenlrer, 


HELD  AT  SCHUYLEBVILLE,  N.  T 


•» 


UNDER  THE  AUSPICES  OF  THE  SARATOGA  MONUMENT  ASSOCIATION, 

On  the  17th  of  October,  1877. 

FBEPUtBS  BT 

WILLIAM  L.  STONE, 

Secretarv  Qf  the  Asaociaticn. 


"History  Itself  must  now  begin  as  from  a  new  epoch.  They  are  new 
powers  that  must  set  the  wheels  of  government  and  of  all  the  world's 
machinery  in  motion." 


ALBANY: 

JOEL   MUNSELL 

1878. 


NOTE. 

The  author  would  here  acknowledge  his  obligations  to 
Col.  D.  F.  Ritchie  of  Saratoga  Springs,  and  Mr.  P.  C. 
Ford  of  Schuylerville,  for  assistance  in  recalling  the 
details  of  the  celebration. 


OFFICERS 


OF  THE 


SARATOGA  MONUMENT  ASSOCIATION. 


President, 

HORATIO  SEYMOUR,  Utica,  N.  Y. 

Vice-President, 

JAMES  H.  MARVIN,  Saratoga  Springs,  N.  Y. 

Secretary, 

WILLIAM  L.  STONE,  New  York  city. 

Corresponding  Secretary, 

ED.  W.  B.  CANNING,  Stockbridge,  Mass. 

Treasurer,  »  . 

DANIEL  A.  BULLARD,  SchuylerviUe,  N.  Y. 

STANDING  COMMITTEES. 

Committee  on  Design, 

William  L.  Stone,  Charles  H.  Payn,  E.  W.  B.  Canning, 

James  M.  Marvin,  Leroy  Mowry. 

Com,inittee  on  Location, 

Asa  C.  Tefft,  Benson  J.  Lossing,  E.  F.  Bullard. 

Building  Committee, 

Charles  H.  Payn,  Asa  C.  Tefft,  William  L.  Stone. 

Executive  Committee, 

Leroy  Mowry,  James  M.  Marvin,  Daniel  A.  Bullard,  D.  F. 

Ritchie. 
Advisory  Committee, 
Edward  F.  Bullard,  Saratoga  Springs,  P.  C.  Ford,  Schuyler- 
viUe, N.  Y.,  B,  W.  Throckmorton,  New  York  city,  Oscar 
Frisbie,  New  York  city. 

Mcecutive  Committee  for  the  Centennial  Celebration. 
William  L.  Stone,  P.  C.  Ford,  Edward  F.  Bullard. 


OrFICBBS. 


I  I 


TRUSTEES. 

Horatio  Seymour,  Wm.  J.  Bacon,  Utica,  N,  Y. 
James  M.  Marviv,  Charles  H.  Payx,  E.  F.  Bullard,  David 

F.  Ritchie,  Saratoga  Springs,  N.  Y. 
Wm.  L.  Stoxe,  Gen.  J.  Watts  De  Peyster,  Algernon  S. 

SuLLivA^^,  B.  W.  Throckmorton,  New  York  city. 
Daniel  A.  Bullard,  P.  C.  Ford,  H.  Clay  Homes,  Schuyler- 

ville,  N.  Y. 

Leroy  Mowry,  Greenwich,  N.  Y. 

-  Asa  C.  Tefpt,  Fort  Miller,  N.  Y. 

Charles  W.  Mayhew,  Victory  Mills,  N.  Y. 

E.  R.  MuDGE,  Boston,  Mass. 

E.  W.  B.  Canning,  Stockbridge,  Mass, 

Webster  Wagner,  Palatine  Bridge,  N.  Y. 

Frank  Pruyn,  Mechanicville,  N.  Y. 

James  H.  Kelly,  Rochester,  N.  Y.        , 

Giles  B.  Slocum,  Trenton,  Mich. 

Benson  J.  Lossing,  Dover  Plains,  N.  Y. 

Gen.  John  M.  Read,  Lemo^  Thomson,  Albany,  N.  Y. 


J.  Y. 

ARD,  David 

LGERNON   S. 

i  city. 

4,  Schuyler- 


CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION 


OF   THE 


SURRENDER  OF  BURGOYNE. 


Y. 


y,  N.  Y. 


NARRATIVE. 

At  early  day-break  on  tlie  Centennial  of  Burgoyne's 
surrender  1  stood  upon  the  highly  elevated  plateau  on 
which  rests  the  foundation  for  the  Saratoga  Monument. 
A  vast  amphitheatre  was  spread  at  my  feet.  High  as  I 
was  above  the  village  of  Schuylerville  and  the  surround- 
ing plain,  or  rather  the  whole  region  of  country  between 
the  Kayaderosseras  range  on  the  west,  the  Green  mount- 
ains on  the  east,  and  the  Catskills  on  the  south,  the 
varieties  of  upland  and  lowland  were  lost  in  the  almost 
perpendicular  line  of  vision  in  which  they  were  presented 
to  the  view.  As  the  dawn  grew  on  apace,  a  gray  jasper 
tinge  slowly  crept  along  the  edge  of  the  horizon.  Flecks 
of  pale  sapphire  gradually  branched  up,  which,  changing 
into  shoaling  spires  of  emerald  and  chalcedony,  grew 
more  and  more  distinct,  until  the  entire  eastern  sky  was 
bathed  in  the  hues  of  the  topaz  and  amethyst.  As  the 
day  advanced,  and  the  rays  of  light  darted  thicker  and 
brighter  across  the  heavens,  the  purple  clouds  which  hung 
over  Willard's  mountain,  were  fringed  with  a  saffron  dye 
of  inexpressible  beauty.  As  the  sun  ascended  above  the 
horizon — the  broad  glare  of  his  beams  being  somewhat 


6 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


•  II 


!      I 


repressed  by  a  dense  atmosphere  —  the  orb  could  be  clearly 
defined  by  the  naked  eye.  After  it  had  gained  the  horizon 
the  lesser  spires  below  began  to  point  their  tall  shadows 
toward  me ;  a  cheerful  and  mellow  light  gradually  diffused 
itself  around;  and  the  fog,  which  had  rested  upon  the 
lower  landscape,  gently  lifting,  disclosed  hill  and  vale, 
wood  and  river,  in  all  their  autumnal  loveliness,  standing 
sponp.ors  for  the  new-born  day. 

Wednesday,  the  17th  of  October,  1877,  was,  indeed,  a 
superb  autumn  day.  Tiie  air  was  mild  and  balmy,  and 
by  nine  o'clock  not  a  cloud  could  be  descried  in  any  quar- 
ter of  the  heavens.  It  would  seem  as  if  the  fates  had 
deliberately  combined  to  render  the  weather  most  auspi- 
cious. On  the  Monday  previous,  a  cold,  driving  rain  had 
set  in;  and  although  it  had  partially  cleared,  yet  the  sun 
of  Tuesday  had  gone  down  in  gloom ;  while  the  wailing 
of  the  wind  in  the  tall  pines  and  the  leaden  clouds  over- 
head gave  every  indication  of  another  storm.  Notwith- 
standing, however,  these  untoward  signs  and  the  con- 
tinued interrogations  "Will  it  ever  clear  up?"  the  citizens 
of  the  patriotic  little  village  of  Schuylerville  continued 
the  work  of  decoration  late  into  the  night.  Early  in  the 
afternoon  of  the  16th  the  advance  guard  of  the  visitors, 
press-reporters  and  delegates  from  different  military  and 
civic  associations  began  to  arrive.  Among  these  came 
Battery  B,  of  Troy,  Captain  A.  H.  Green  commanding, 
with  twenty  men  and  five  brass  twelve  pounders,  and, 
also.  Captain  Tracy  of  the  same  city  with  twenty  police- 
men, whose  manly  bearing:  and  effective  measures  for 
preserving  the  peace  during  the  celebration  received  the 
deserved  commendation  of  all  lovers  of  order.  In  the 
evening,  the  village  was  generally  illuminated,  giving  to 
the  colored  decorations  a  really  fine  effect,  and  eliciting 
warm  encomiums  for  the  tasteful  manner  in  which  the 
ladies  and  gentlemen  had  performed  their  work. 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne.  7 

The  following  morning,  a  little  before  sunrise,  the 
artillery  men  of  Battery  B  turned  out,  and  dividing  into 
four  squads  proceeded  in  as  many  directions  to  the  out- 
skirts of  the  village  where  their  cannons  had  previously 
been  placed  in  position.'  The  day  was  formally  ushered 
in  by  a  salute  of  one  hundred  guns,  the  echoes  of  which 
had  scarcely  died  away,  when  the  people  of  Easton,  from 
the  heights  of  Willard's  mountain,  returned  the  greeting 
with  the  same  number  of  guns.  Thebellsof  the  churches 
then  rang  out  merrily,  and  the  steam  whistles  from  the 
factories  in  the  vicinity  blew  their  shrillest  notes.  The 
rumbling  of  wheels  along  the  several  roads  leading  into 
the  village  was  now  heard,  and  soon  the  streets  were 
astir  with  wagons,  carriages  and  omnibusses  filled  with 
people  from  the  surrounding  country.  In  Saratoga  Springs, 
twelve  miles  away,  all  the  stores  were  closed,  and  a  still- 
ness, more  than  funereal,  hung  over  its  streets;  while  the 
entire  length  of  the  road  leading  from  that  village  to 
Schuylerville  was,  for  more  than  four  hours,  covered  with 
a  continuous  line  of  vehicles  of  every  description — from 
the  field-wagon,  with  rough  board  seat  and  chains  on 
which  to  rest  the  feet  and  drawn  by  oxen,  to  the  hand- 
some chariotee  of  the  wealthy  citizen.''    Toward  noon  the 


'These  guns  were  placed  respectively  near  the  corner  stone  of  theSara- 
toifa  Monument ;  on  tlie  site  of  the  camp  of  the  British  Grenadiers ;  on  the 
hill  back  of  Alonzo  Welch's  house  where  General  Morgan's  riflemen  were 
stationed,  and  on  the  high  bluflFon  the  east  side  of  the  river,  the  site  of  old 
Fort  Saratoga  during  the  French  and  Indian  colonial  wars,  and,  just  pre- 
vious to  the  surrender,  occupied  by  Col.  Fellows  with  a  battery.  An  eigiit- 
een  pounder  captured  from  the  British  in  1813,  and  presented  lo  the 
Saratoga  Monument  Association  by  Frederick  DePeyster  and  Gen.  J.  W. 
DePeyster,  of  New  York  City,  was  also  placed  near  the  corner  stone. 

'Benj.  W.  Amsden  of  No.  70  Lake  avenue  says  that  on  Wednesday 
morning  vehicles  were  passing  his  place,  en  route  to  Schuylerville,  long 
before  daybreak.  Somewhat  surpiised  at  the  immense  number  of  people 
moving  in  the  direction  of  the  surrender  grounds,  he  began  at  six  o'cl«)ck 
and  kept  a  tally  of  each  team  that  passed  up  to  elevep  o'clock,  five  hours, 


8 


Centennial  Celedration  op 


military,  masonic  and  other  organizations  that  were  to 
take  part  in  tlie  approaching  pageant  thronged  into  the 
town,  and  hy  mid-day,  the  pavements  and  the  windows 
and  porches  of  the  liouses  were  tilled  with  an  expectant 
multitude  anxious  to  secure  a  good  view  of  the  procession.^ 
And  well  might  the  scene  now  presented  rivet  the  eye. 
It  is  seldom  that  a  spectacle,  such  as  that  which  the  streets 
andhuildings  of  Schuylerville  aftbrded  on  this  occasion,  is 
seen.  As  early  as  a  week  previous  to  the  celebration, 
every  flag,  large  or  small,  every  yard,  remnant  and  piece 
of  colored  goods  to  be  found  in  any  of  the  stores  were 
purchased,  to  the  great  gratiflcation  of  the  merchants,  who 
had  feared  that,  in  their  patriotic  enthusiasm,  they  had 
been  unwise  in  fillincc  their  shelves  with  so  larc^e  a  stock 
of  red,  blue  and  white  goods.  Nor  were  the  decorations, 
so  universally  displayed,  massed  together  in  ahetreogene- 
ous  manner  without  form  or  comeliness.  Good  judgment, 
a  cultivated  taste  and  a  lavish  expenditure  of  money  gave 
to  the  public  buildings,  the  hotels  and  the  stores  a  bril- 
liant and  striking  appearance  ;  while  the  fa9ades  of  the 
houses  adorned  with  bunting  and  various  original  devices 
illustrative  of  scenes  and  incidents  of  a  century  ago, 
showed  good  taste  and  commendable  patriotism.     This, 


and  found  tlie  number  to  be  tbrce  hundred  and  fifty-four.  As  this  is  but 
one  outlet  to  our  village  some  idea  may  l)e  formed  of  Saratoga's  delegation 
to  the  celebration  when  the  other  streets  and  avenues  on  the  east  side  are 
taken  into  consideration.  The  nuinber  of  Saratogians  who  attended  the 
centennial  could  not  have  been  less  than  five  thousand. — Saratogian, 
Oct.  18lh,  1877. 

'It  was  estimated  by  persons  whose  experience  in  large  gatherings  of  a 
like  nature  rendered  them  competent  judges,  that  fully  thirty  thousand 
people  were  in  the  village  and  upon  the  surrender  grounds  at  noon  on 
Wednesday.  Had  the  conveyance  to  the  village  been  by  rail  road  instead 
of  stages  and  private  teams,  undoubtedly  more  than  double  that  number 
would  have  been  present.  A  more  orderly  and  a  more  intelligent  number 
of  persons,  it  was  repeatedly  remarked  during  the  day  by  participants  in 
the  Oriskany,  Bennington  and  Bemis's  Heights  celebrations,  was  never 
observed  in  any  other  place  where  people  were  soxjlosely  brought  together. 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


9 


together  with  the  bright  and  variegate  colors  of  the 
autumn  foliage  in  the  yards  and  along  the  fiide-walks,  did 
much  to  heighten  the  general  eftect.  When  this  hand- 
some adornment  was  so  universal,  to  specify  those  resi- 
dences that  were  more  richly  dressed  than  others  would 
be  invidious.  So  general,  moreover,  was  the  desire  to 
create  a  good  impression  —  when  neighbor  vied  with 
neighbor  in  beautifying  their  houses  and  [daces  of  busi- 
ness—  that  great  would  be  the  difficulty  to  know  how  or 
what  to  write  in  regard  to  the  mottoes,  buntings,  banners 
and  lanterns  of  each  private  dwelling. 

Among  the  public  buildings  thus  decorated  were  the 
new  school  building,  the  engine-house  and  the  churches 
of  St.  Stephen  and  of  the  Visitation.  The  Dutch  Re- 
formed church  wreathed  garlands  of  the  red,  white  and 
blue  around  its  doric  pillars,  and  the  Methodists  also  ex- 
pressed their  patriotism  by  a  fine  display  of  flags  and 
streamers.  The  Goldsmith  and  Gaily  Houses  were  pro- 
fusely hung  with  bunting  and  colored  lanterns,  and  the 
Schuylerville  House  presented  a  picturesque  front  with 
its  heavy  festoonings  of  evergreens  interwoven  with  the 
red  berries  of  the  ba}'.  Suspended  over  the  main  street 
at  a  prominent  point  was  a  pictorial  representation  of  the 
surrender.  Burgoyne  was  painted  in  the  act  of  handing 
his  sword  to  Gates,  while  underneath  the  scene  was  in- 
scribed the  British  general's  remark:  "The  fortune  of 
war,  General  Gates,  has  made  me  your  prisoner."  At  a 
number  of  points,  from  newly  erected  flag-staflTs,  American 
colors  were  floating^;  and  here  and  there  one  saw  now  a 


'One  of  these  flag-poles,  at  the  corner  of  Pearl  and  Bnrffoyne  streets  is 
one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  in  heiiijht;  another,  close  by  the  ccrner  stone 
of  the  monument,  is  one  hundred  and  sixty  feet  higli.  Each  of  these 
poles  is  surmounted  by  a  large  glass  ball ;  and  the  one  planted  by  the  cor- 
ner stone  may  be  readily  seen  by  the  aid  of  a  field  glass  by  the  citizens  of 
Saratoga  Springs,  twelve  miles  distant.  These  flag-siaffa  were  both  the 
work  of  Mr.  Giles  P.  Laing,  of  Schuylerville. 


'i! 


10 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


portrait  of  George  Washington,  and  again  one  of  Philip 
Schuyler,  Morgan  or  some  other  old  hero  in  a  frame  of 
evergreen.  Nor  was  this  kind  of  work  confined  to 
Schuylerville.  Standing  near  the  site  of  the  monument 
the  eye  took  in,  for  miles  around,  flags  waving  from  poles 
set  up  for  the  nonce  before  innumerable  farm-houses.  In 
the  distance,  snugly  nestled  among  the  lower  spurs  of  the 
Green  mountains,  the  pretty  villages  of  Greenwich  and 
Middle  Falls  looked  like  two  fleets  riding  at  anchor,  their 
tall  masts  flying  gaily  colored  pennants  as  if  for  some 
great  naval  victory.  Saratoga  and  Washington  counties 
seemed  in  very  truth  to  have  hung  their  banners  upon  the 
outer  walls.  Indeed,  as  it  was  well  said  at  the  time, 
"  What,  with  the  vivid  hues  of  autumn  upon  the  trees, 
and  the  vivid  hues  of  patriotism  upon  the  houses,  the  vil- 
lage and  its  vicinage  looked  as  gay  and  attractive  as  did 
the  splendid  army  of  Burg.iyne,  as  it  sailed  up  Lake 
Champlain  in  June  1777,  when  the  sun  shone  on  the  scar- 
let coats  of  British  grenadiers,  and  on  the  bright  helmets 
of  the  German  dragoons^" 

As  the  troops  of  the  several  commands  arrived  they  re- 
ported to  the  Grand  Marshal,  General  W.  B.  French,  on 
Schuyler  Square  where  they  were  assigned  positions.  In 
consequence,  however,  of  the  late  arrival  of  the  more  dis- 
tant organizations  it  was  noon  before  the  Marshal  and 
his  aides  had  arranged  them  into  column.'  Finally,  the 
report  of  a  cannon  told  that  all  was  in  readiness;  and  at 
half  past  twelve  o'clock  the  procession,  headed  by  a  pla- 
toon of  Troy  police,  filed  out  of  the  square  into  Gates's 
avenue,  General  French  and   his  staff  gallantly  leading 


'Mr.  McElroy,  in  the  Albany  Emning  Journal. 

"Gen.  French  iloscrvcs  much  credit  for  the  skill  with  which  he  held  the 
procession  intact  along  tiie  line  of  nuvrcli.  No  break  or  impediiuent 
caused  any  of  those  halls  or  separations  that  so  frequently  occur  on  occa- 
sions of  this  kind. 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


11 


the  vvav.  The  line  of  march  was  from  Gates's  avenue  to 
Grove  street,  thence  to  Pearl ;  from  Pearl  to  Burgoym^, ; 
down  Burgoyne  to  Broad;  up  Broad  to  Spring;  thence 
to  Church,  to  Burgoyne,  to  Pearl,  to  Saratoga,  to  Greer* 
and  up  Burgoyne  avenue  to  the  monument  grounds  ad- 
joining Prospect  Hill  Cemetery. 

A  volume  would  scarce  suffice  to  detail  the  particulars 
necessary  to  a  full  description  of  the  flags  and  emblems 
and  patriotic  decorations  which  graced  the  arches  under 
which  passed  the  many  divisions  and  sub-divisions  of  this 
imposing  pageant:  nor    yet  to  give  the  incidents  which, 
like  the  fragments  of  a  splendid  vision  are  still  floating  in 
bright  and  glowing   masses   through   the   imagination. 
But  the  spectacle  was  too  brilliant   and  the   scenes    too 
various  for  the  memory  to  retain  more  than  certain  vague 
impressions  no  less  beautiful  than  indistinct.     Those  who 
were  present  and  saw  the  magnificent  scene  on  that  lovely 
autumn  day  — while  it  gave  them  an  idea  of  the  appear- 
ance of  the  two  armies  one  hundred  years  ago  at  that  very 
hour  and  on   that  very  spot — will  at  once  admit  that  it 
cannot  be  painted  in  language ;  and  those   who  had  not 
that  happiness,  must  content  themselves  with  the  assur- 
ance that  the  best  endeavors  of  the  writer   to   convey  to 
them  an  adequate  idea  of  its  eflfect  will  fail. 

The  first  arch  (tastily  draped  with  flags  and  bunting) 
under  which  the  procession  marched,  was  at  the  corner 
of  Green  and  Pearl  streets,  near  the  handsomely  adorned 
residences  of  C.  W.  Mayhew,  and  G.  W.  Watson.  The 
next  one  was  at  the  junction  of  Burgoyne  and  Pearl  streets 
in  front  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  church.  Upon  it  in  let- 
ters of  evergreen  were  the  words  of  welcome  ascribed  by 
some  to  Gp^tes  on  his  first  meeting  the  defeated  British 
general ;     "  I  am  glad  to   see   you,"^  with   the   century 


•"It  is  the  custom  in  England,  and  in  America  on  approaching  any  body 
for  the  first  time  to  say,  '  I  am  very  happy  to  see  you.'    Ge'.eral  Gates 


12 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


dates  of  Oct.  17th,  1777,  and  1877  ;  the  right  and  left  of 
the  centre  inscription  bearing  the  names  (also  in  ever- 
green), of  Schuyler,  Gates  ai  d  Morgan.  At  the  corner  of 
Burgoyne  and  Broad  streets  another  arch,  festooned  with 
laurel,  spanned  the  road;  while  a  little  farther  on  and 
opposite  the  Methodist  parsonage,  a  graceful  arch,  thrown 
across  the  street,  bore  on  its  south  side  the  legend,  "  Meth- 
odism honors  the  occasion,"  and  on  the  north  "  Methodism 
reveres  the  heroes  of  1777."  On  the  lawn,  in  front  of  the 
Marshall  House,'  from  a  tall  liberty  pole  floated  the  stars 
and  stripes,  and  a  little  distance  from  the  foot  of  Bur- 
goyne avenue  on  the  Main  street,  an  old  elm,  whose  trunk 
was  wreathed  with  the  "  red,  white  and  blue,"  bore  tnis 
inscription;  '' Near  this  spot,  Oct.  17th,  1777,  American 
and  British  officers  met  and  consummated  the  articles  of 
capitulation  of  General  Burgoyne  to  General  Gates ;  and 
on  this  ground  the  British  laid  down  their  arms  thus  se- 
curing American  independence."     Standing  on  the  roof 


chanced  to  make  use  <  f  this  expression  in  accosting  General  Burgoyne : 
'i  believe  you  are,''  repliv^cl  tlie  general,  the  fortune  of  the  day  is  entirely 
yours'." — Travels  in  North  America  in  1780-83,  by  the  Marquis  Be  Chastel- 
htx. 

'  "  A  hundred  years  ago  from  yesterday,  in  the  cellar  of  tlie  house,  at 
present  occupied  by  Mrs.  Jane  M.  Marshall,  there  was  a  pitiful  picture  of 
II  few  crouching,  terror-stricken  women  and  children,  and  a  number  of 
wounded,  hungry  soldiers ;  a  century  later,  yesterday,  upon  the  lawn  of 
tJje  same  house,  there  wiis  a  joyous,  patriotic  company  of  wives  and 
maidens,  raising  into  the  air  a  liberty  pole  whereon,  in  a  few  days  shall 
float  the  glorious  emblem  of  freedom  and  victory.  With  the  dark  mem- 
ories of  tliat  house  upon  tluir  minds  did  tliese  women  lift  aloft  with  wil- 
ling hands  the  celebrating  staff  of  its  peace  and  domestic  love.  The  sad 
records  of  Madame  Riedesel  stand  in  dark  contrast  with  this  honorary  act 
of  Mrs.  J.  M.  Marshall,  Mrs.  George  W.  Smith,  Miss  Jennie  Marshall  (the 
two  latter  the  foruier's  daughters),  Mrs.  Chas.  Bartram  ofGreenpoint,  L.  I., 
Mrs.  Wesley  Buck  and  Mrs.  Joseph  Hudson  of  this  village.  Tiie  pole  ia 
eighty-nine  feet  from  the  ground  and  will  float  a  flag  twelve  by  fourteen 
fviit"—iSchuylerville  Standard,  Oct.  15,  1877. 

Mrs.  Marshall  also,  gave  the  two  Albany  companies  of  the  Twenty-fifth 
regiment,  the  day  alter  the  Cflebratiou,  an  elegant  dinner  set  out  on  the 
lawn.  ^ 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


13 


of  the  Grecian  portico  of  D.  L.  Potter's  dwelling,  the  God- 
dess of  Liberty,  in  life  size,  shone  resplendent  in  a  starry 
crown  and  a  skirt  made  of  the  American  flag.  Within 
the  court-yard  of  Alonzo  Welch  —  the  site  of  the  old  Revo- 
lutionary Barracks  —  stood  a  large  marquee  from  the  top 
of  which  were  unfurled  the  American  and  British  colors  ; 
while  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Pearl  and  Terry  streets 
a  wooden  monument  was  placed,  having  upon  one  of  its 
sides  the  following  lettering : 

Saratoga, 

Bemis  Heights, 

Bennington, 

Oriskany, 

Lexington  and  Concord. 

The  eye  of  beauty,  too,  gazed  with  delight  upon  the  pass- 
ing scene.  Every  window  was  thronged;  and  the  myriads 
of  handkerchiefs  which  fluttered  in  the  air  was  only  rivaled 
in  whiteness  by  the  delicate  hands  which  suspended  them ; 
while  the  glow'ng  cheeks,  the  ingenuous  smiles  of  loveli- 
ness and  innocence,  and  the  intelligence  which  beamed 
brightly  from  many  a  sparkling  eye,  proclaimed  their  po- 
sessors  worthy  of  being  the  wives,  mothers  and  daughters 
of  freemen.  It  was  in  flne  a  proud  spectacle ;  but  language 
fails  in  attempting  its  description  —  much  more  in  impart- 
ing to  paper  the  sensations  which  it  created.  It  is  not 
dilficult  to  describe  individual  objects  correctly,  but  it  is 
impossible  to  portray  their  general  eftcct  when  happily 
grouped  together.  We  rejoiced,  and  all  who  were  there 
rejoiced;  although,  as  we  looked  upon  the  countless 
throng,  we  could  not  but  remember  the  exclamation  of 
Xerxes,  and  feel  that  "a  hundred  years  hence,  not  one  of 
all  that  vast  multitude  will  be  alive." 

Immediately  behind  the  police  and  leading  the  proces- 
sion proper,  came  the  popular  Doring's  band  of  Troy, 
composed  of  twenty-six  pieces.     Following  these,   and 


i    m 


14 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


marching  by  platoons,  were  Company  F,  Tenth  regiment 
N.  Y.  S.  N.  G.,  Captain  George  D.  Weidman  commanding, 
and  Company  I,  Twenty-fifth  regiment  under  Captain 
"Walker.  Both  companiea  wore  a  neat  gray  uniform,  and 
by  their  soldierly  bearing  did  credit  to  the  capital  city. 
Colt's  armory  band  of  twenty  pieces,  one  of  the  choicest 
musical  organizations  in  the  land,  and  clad  in  scarlet,  fol- 
lowed next  in  order ;  and  directly  after  them  were  the 
Governor's  Foot  Guards  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  commanded 
by  Major  W.  H.  Talcott.  The  presence,  on  this  occasion, 
of  the  Foot  Guards  was  particularly  fortunate,  and  most 
appropriate.  Dressed  in  the  rich  and  peculiar  style  of  the 
time  of  George  III  —  bear-skin  caps,  scarlet  coats,  knee- 
breeches,  and  black  velvet  leggins  with  silver  buckles  on 
their  shoes  —  they  gave  to  the  spectators  a  correct  idea  of 
the  appearance  of  Burgoyne's  "  Red-coats"  at  the  time  of 
the  surrender.  Accompanying  the  Foot  Guards  were  the 
Veterans  of  the  corps  in  citizen's  dress,  wearing  Kossuth 
hats  and  crimson  badges.^  The  Park  Guard's  band,  one 
of  Vermont's  best,  with  the  Park  Guards  of  Bennington, 
Capt.  N.  0.  Wilcox,  made  a  striking  appearance  in  their 
grenadier  hats  and  steel  gray  uniforms.  Having  taken 
part  in  the  Bennington  centennial,  it  gave  them  pleasure 
to  participate  in  Saratoga's  celebration.  It  was  one  of  the 
best  equipped  commands  on  the  ground.  As  the  proces- 
sion moved  by,  the  next  command  that  passed  along  was 


'The  Governoi's  Foot  Guards  were  chartered  in  1771.  In  October, 
1777,  il  started  for  Saratoga  to  offer  its  services  to  Gates  though  organized 
specially  as  a  body  guard  to  the  goveinor  and  general  assembly  of  the 
colony  of  Connecticut.  The  company,  under  the  command  of  Captain 
Jonathan  Bull,  marclied  as  far  as  the  Rhinebeck  flats,  where,  being  met 
by  an  express  with  the  news  of  Burgoyne's  surrender,  they  returned 
home.  The  battalion  now  numbers  about  one  hundred,  including  a  band 
of  Iwentj-five  pieces.  James  Bull,  now  living  at  Saratoga  Springs,  is  a 
grandson  of  Captain  Jonathan  Bull,  and  was  a  member  of  tlic  guards 
fifty  years  ago.  His  father  Isaac  D.  Bull  was  the  first  major  of  the  or- 
ganization when  it  became  a  battalion  in  1813,  serving  until  1816. 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


15 


the  Hughes  Light  Guards  of  South  Glen's  Falls,  Capt. 
Gleesettle.  This  company  has  only  recently  been  organ- 
ized, but  the  members  carried  themselves  like  veterans, 
reflecting  credit  on  the  most  northerly  town  in  Saratoga 
county.  The  Wliitehall  Cornet  band  then  filed  past,  lead- 
ing the  v^'ell  known  and  popular  Burleigh  Corps  of  White- 
hall, Lieut.  Bascom  commanding.  The  Guards  and  Corps 
were  dressed  in  the  regulation  dark  and  light  blue  and 
wore  the  shako,  and  made  a  creditable  appearance.  This 
military  array  was  followed  by  the  Knights  Templar,  their 
gay  trappings,  in  the  bright  sunlight  of  an  unclouded  sky, 
being  sufficiently  gorgeous  to  have  filled  the  eye  of  a  Per- 
sian emperor  in  the  height  of  oriental  ^lendor  and  mag- 
nificence. The  Knights  Templar  constituted  the  second 
division  of  the  procession  which  was  under  the  command 
of  very  eminent  Grand  Commander  Charles  H.  Holden, 
assisted  by  Sir  Knight  B.  F.  Judson.  Preceding  the 
"Washington  Commandery  of  Saratoga  Springs,  was  the 
Ballston  Cornet  band  dressed  in  a  showy  dark  blue  uni- 
form. Then  came  the  Seventy-seventh  regiment  band  of 
Saratoga  Springs,  composed  of  twenty-two  pieces  and 
dressed  in  military  uniform,  followed  by  the  Apollo  Com- 
mandery of  Troy  and  the  Temple  Commandery  of  Albany. 
These  commanderies,  together  with  Washington  Com- 
mandery, sustained  well  their  reputation  as  among  the 
finest  appearing  and  best  drilled  organic  *^ions  of  Sir 
Knights  in  the  state.  The  Mozart  band  of  Schenectady, 
uniformed  in  white,  came  next  in  order  preceding  the 
commanderies  of  St  George  of  Schenectady,  l)e  Soto  of 
Plattsburgh,  Holy  Cross  of  Gloversville,  Lafayette  of  Hud- 
son, Little  Falls  of  Little  Falls,  Killington  of  Rutland, 
Vermont,  and  the  Teft't  of  Bennington  of  the  same  state. 
The  Schuylerville  Cornet  band  was  the  next  to  pass,  fol- 
lowed by  the  Master  Masons,  who  precede<l  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  the  state  of  New  York.     Along  the  whole  ex- 


16 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


tensive  line  of  march  each  of  the  different  organizations 
was  received  with  continual  cheers,  a  circumstance  which 
added  not  a  little  to  the  animation  of  the  scene. 

The  Saratoga  Centennial  Cavalry,  Major  T.  S.  Hassett 
commanding,  brought  up  the  rear.  This  company  num- 
bered upward  of  eighty  horsemen,  and  attired  in  the 
attractive  uniform  of  Gates's  Centennials,  they  elicited 
much  praise  from  the  bystanders  whenever  they  appeared. 
This  cavalcade  formed  the  escort,  or  rather  the  rearguard, 
to  the  orators,  poets,  officers  of  the  day,  members  of  the 
Saratoga  Monument  Association  and  invited  guests,  who, 
seated  in  open  carriages,  formed  the  civic  portion  of  the 
procession.  .  In  one  of  the  carriages  were  Horatio  Sey- 
mour, George  William  Curtis  and  Alfred  B.  Street,  each 
wearing  on  his  breast,  not  the  gorgeous  insignia  of  the 
courts  of  kings,  but  —  typical  of  Republican  simplicity  — 
a  silk  badge,  on  which  was  attached  a  plain  rosette  made 
of  the  dry  leaves  of  the  palmetto.^  Among  the  most 
honored  guests  were  ex-Senator  Foster,  of  Connecticut, 
whose  father  was  in  both  buttles  of  Bemis's  Heights,  and 
George  L.  Schuyler,  of  New  York,  a  grandson  of  Gen. 
Philip  Schuyler.  In  another  carriage,  also,  rode  Albert 
Clements,   aged^  ninety-six,  George  Strover,  eighty-six, 


•  At  the  top  of  the  badge  is  printed  the  word  "  Gates,"  and  at  tlie 
bottom,  "  Saratoga,  Oct.  17th,  1877."  The  badges  were  the  gift  of  Gen. 
Stephen  D.  Kirlc,  of  Cliarleston,  8.  C.  Gen.  Kirl?  accompanied  the  gifts 
with  appropriate  patriotic  sentiments. 

'Albert  Clements,  the  most  remarkable  person  in  the  vicinity  of  Schny- 
lerville,  was  ninety-six  years  old  on  the  24lh  of  Octo.^er,  1877.  Born  in 
Dutchess  county,  N.  Y  ,  he  camewil'i  bis  father  to  Saratoga  (Schuyler- 
ville)  when  only  eight  years  old,  in  1/81,  and  has  resided  there  ever  since. 
His  father  purchased  five  hundred  acres  of  land  west  of  the  Schuyler 
tract,  which  in  part  he  cleared  and  made  very  productive  in  corn,  wheat, 
buckwheat,  flax,  barley,  etc.  He  also  had  a  distillery  on  the  Fishkill, 
about  a  mile  south  of  Victory  Mills,  near  the  houses  of  Vilorus  Winney, 
and  of  the  father  of  Mr.  Giles  B.  Slocum,  now  living  in  Trenton,  Mich. 


Ill 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoynb. 


17 


and  William  H.  McCreedy,  eighty-six,  the  three  oldest 
men  in  the  village,  and  honored  both  for  their  own 
sakes  and  from  having  once  been  the  neighbors  of 
Gen.  Schuyler.  The  presence  of  these  three  venerable, 
but  still  hale  and  hearty,  village  sires,  and  the  distin- 
guished ex-Senator  Foster,  carried  back  the  minds  of 
the  beholders  so  vividly  to  those  "times  that  tried 
men's  souls,*'  that  they  no  longer  seemed  to  belong 
to  the  "  dim  past,"  but  to  the  vitality  of  the  actual 
present.  It  had  been  expected  that  Governor  Robinson, 
of  New  York,  Governor  liice,  of  Massachusetts,  and  Van 
Zandt,  of  Rhode  Island,  would  be  present ;  but  illness 
kept  them  all  away.  The  governor  of  New  York  was 
represented  by  members  of  his  military  family;  "but  as 
he  had  vetoed  the  state  appropriation  for  the  celebration, 
a  word  of  sympathy  from  him  in  the  commemoration  of 
the  most  important  of  the  Revolutionary  centennial  cele- 
brations in  New  York  state  would  have  been  fitting  and 
welcome."' 
The  procession  was  more  than  a  mile  in  length,  and 


His  father  was  a  most  successful  distiller,  and  manufactured  an  excellent 
quality  of  whisky  fnmi  buckwheat  and  potatoes.  He  also  made  cider 
brandy.  The  longevity  of  the  tamily  is  remaikable.  His  father  died 
at  ninety,  his  niotlier  at  eighty.  Albert  Clements  has  had  eleven 
children.  The  youngest  living  is  fifty  years  old,  and  he  has  a  son 
(Dr.  Clements,  of  Saratoga  Springs),  aged  sixty-flve.  He  never  belonged 
to  any  religh)us  denomination,  but  attends  that  of  the  Methodists.  He 
has  never  used  (so  they  tell  me),  "  as  mucii  tobacco  as  would  amount  to 
one  cigar;"  but  has  always  drank  spirits,  "when  he  felt  like  it."  His 
earnest  sententious  speech,  without  any  of  the  besetting  weakness  of  old 
age,  commands  the  attention  and  interest  of  all  with  whom  he  converses. 
His  hale,  hearty,  courteous  manner,  and  his  physical  activity  make  him 
a  man  to  be  noted.  When  I  proposed  to  send  a  carriage  for  him  on 
the  day  of  tLe  celebration,  he  replied  that  "  he  could  walk  as  well  as 
not,"  tliough  he  lives  two  miles  from  ^he  village.  The  father,  grand- 
father and  greal-grandfather  of  Mr.  McCreedy  were  all  present  as  soldiers 
at  the  surrender,  Mr.  Clements,  Mr.  Slrover,  and  Mr.  McCreedy,  all  occu- 
pied seats  on  the  speakers'  stand,  the  day  of  the  celebration. 
'  Harper's  Weekly. 


18 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


contained  ncarl}^  three  thousand  people.  It  was,  indeed, 
a  pati^eant  of  indescribable  interest,  and,  to  most,  of  double 
attraction ;  the  occasion  beins^  one  in  which  the  deepest 
sympathies  were  enlisted,  and  it  being  also  altogether  the 
finest  display  of  pomp  and  circumstance  ever  witnessed 
in  northern  New  York. 

A  large  part  of  the  population  of  Saratoga  and  Wash- 
ington counties  had  given  themselves  up  to  the  enjoyment 
of  the  occasion  ;  and  gladness,  in  .ill  its  fullness,  was 
depicted  in  every  countenance,  while  a  noble  enthusiasr. 
swelled  every  bosom.  The  bond  of  union  was  complete; 
and  every  man,  carrying  himself  back  one  liar.dred  years, 
felt  as  though  his  country  had  been  rescued,  in  tha  last 
hour,  from  the  most  imminent  peril. 

The  head  of  the  procession  reached  the  open  squar9  in 
front  of  the  monument  at  half  past  one  o'clock.  The 
right  of  line  then  opened,  and  the  Grand  Lodge  advanced 
to  its  position,  being  surrounded  by  the  subordinate 
lodges  formed  in  a  square.  The  commanderies  made  the 
same  formation  outside  of  the  lodges,  while  the  military, 
beyond  the  commanderies,  encircled  them,  having  in  their 
rear  a  vast  concourse  of  citizens,  estimated  at  twelve 
thousand.  The  various  bands  of  music,  which  had 
enlivened  the  march  of  the  procession,  were  concentrated 
in  the  enclosure,  but  so  disposed  as  not  to  intercept  the 
prospect.  The  Grand  Lodge  occupied  a  position  upon  the 
foundation  of  the  monument,  and  thus  the  Masonic  cere- 
monies, which  were  conducted  in  the  usual  form,  were  in 
full  view  of  the  multitude. 

After  the  corner-stone  had  been  laid,  the  procession 
was  reformed  ;  and,  amid  the  firing  of  cannons,  counter- 
marched to  the  speaking  grounds  on  Schuyler  square 
where  two  stands  had  been  built,  on  which  floated  the 
American  and  British  flags.  At  the  southern  stand,  where 
lion.  Charles  S.  Lester  of  Saratoga  Springs  presided,  the 


THE  Surrender  of  Burqoyne. 


19 


;er  witnessed 


}  procession 
lis,  counter- 


orations  of  Horatio  Seymour  and  George  William  Curtis, 
and  the  addresses  of  Judge  Lester  and  Lafayette  S.  Foster 
were  delivered,  toget*  with  the  poem  of  Alfred  B.  Street, 
read  by  Col.  E.  P.  Howe  of  Saratoga  Springs.  The  short, 
impromptu  speech  by  Senator  Foster,  was  peculiarly 
timely  and  fitting,  and  of  extraordinary  interest,  owing 
to  the  fact  that  he  had  often  listened  to  the  story  of  the 
battle  from  the  lips  of  his  father,  who  was  lieutenant  and 
adjutant  of  one  of  the  Connecticut  regiments  on  the  Ame- 
rican side.  At  the  northern  stand,  Hon.  George  W. 
Schuyler,  in  the  absence  of  Gen.  E.  F.  Bullard,  was  called 
upon  to  preside ;  but  shortly  after  delivering  his  intro- 
ductory address  he  was  summoned  away  by  a  dispatch 
from  Albany.  Before  leaving  Mr.  Schuyler  called  upon 
Col.  David  F.  Ritchie  to  take  his  place ;  and  the  latter 
acted  in  this  capacity  during  the  remainder  of  the  exer- 
cises. At  this  stand  were  delivered  the  historical  address 
of  William  L.  Stone,  and  the  speeches  of  B.  W.  Throck- 
morton «f  New  Jersey,  Judge  Austin  A.  Yates  of  Sche- 
npctady,  and  H.  L.  Gladding  of  Albany.  General  James 
Grant  Wilson  (the  biographer  of  Fitz  Green  Halleck)  read 
that  poet's  Field  of  the  Grounded  Arms,  and  the  Rev. 
D.  K.  Van  Doren  of  Schuylerville  a  poem  by  General  J. 
Watts  De  Peyster  prepared  expressly  for  the  occasion. 
A  new  version  of  the  Star  Span:2,led  Banner,  by  Col.  B.  C. 
Butler  of  Luzerne,  N.  Y.,  was  then  read  by  William  L. 
Stone,  and  the  exercises  closed  by  the  reading,  by  Col. 
Ritchie,  of  letters  from  Benson  J.  Lossing,  Mrs.  Ellen  H. 
Walworth,  Giles  B.  Slocuni,  and  General  Stephen  I).  Kirk 
of  Charleston,  South  Carolina.  At  tlie  close  of  the  literary 
exercises,  Governor  Seymour  presented  the  following  re- 
solution which  was  unanimously  adopted : 

liesolved,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Saratoga  Monument 
Association  be  presented  to  Booth  Brothers  of  New  York 


20 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


city  for  their  generous  donation  of  the  corner  stone  whicli 
has  been  hiid  to-day.' 

It  had  been  the  intention  to  close  the  celebration  with 
a  brilliant  military  spectacle  representing  the  surrender 
of  Burgoyne  to  the  Continental  troops.  It  was,  however, 
almost  dusk  when  the  speaking  was  finished ;  and,  ac- 
cordingly, Judge  Lester,  in  dismissing  the  audience,  stated 
that  the  Connecticut  boys^  refused  to  surrender,  and  that 
the  exercises  would  therefore  be  brought  to  an  end  by  a 
dress  parade.  By  a  curious  coincidence  both  Judge  Lester 
and  Col.  Ritchie  closed  the  exercises  at  the  two  stands  by 
announcing  an  adjournment  until  the  next  centennial  in 
1977.  Although  these  gentlemen  seemed  to  have  little 
faith  that  many  of  their  auditors  would  be  present  at  the 
second  centennial  of  the  same  great  event,  it  is  to  be 
hoped  that  they  will  be  mistaken  in  this  instance  ;  and  if 
such  should  be  the  case,  we  trust  they  may  be  among  the 
number  of  those  who  shall  be  spared  to  see  that  joyous 
day. 

While  the  literary  exercises  at  the  stands  were  holding, 
thousands  of  people  who  could  not  get  within  hearing  dis- 
tance, amused  themselves  by  strolling  about  the  village 
and  visiting  the  surrender  grounds,  the  remains  of  old 
Fort  Hardy,  the  Marshall  House  (in  the  cellar  of  which 
Mrs.  Reidesel  took  refuge  during  the  cannonade)  and  the 
"Relic  Tent"  containing  a  sword  said  to  have  belonged 
to  Burgoyne,  the  "Eddy  collection,"  and  many  other  in- 


'  For  this  handsome  gift,  valued  at  three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  the 
Association,  as  stated  in  the  text,  is  indebted  to  the  firm  of  Booth  Brothers 
whose  office  is  at  51  Cliainber  street  New  York.  Tlie  generosity  of  this 
firm  of  Scotclimen  is  the  more  worthy  of  special  notice  from  the  fact  that 
in  tliis  matter  all  other  American  contractors  in  granite  had  turned  upon 
the  Association  the  cold  shoulder.  Booth  Brothers  are  the  owners  of  large 
quarries,  and  being,  also,  contractors  and  dealers  in  all  kinds  of  native  and 
Scotcli  granites,  are  deserving  of  a_ liberal  patronage.  Their  kindness  de- 
serves it. 

'  The  Governor's  Foot  Guards,  who  were  to  personate  the  British  troops. 


THE  Surrender  of^^Burgoyne. 


21 


r  stone  whicli 


teresting  trophies.  The  Schuyler  Mansion,  built  by  Gene- 
ral Schuyler  near  the  site  of  the  one  burned  by  Burgoyne 
and  owned  and  occupied  by  George  Strover,  was,  also,  an 
object  of  special  attraction  during  the  entire  day.*  The 
continental  cavalry  from  Saratoga  Springs,  upon  its  arrival 
in  the  village,  proceeded  thither  in  a  body  and  saluted  the 
house  and  its  occupants.  Among  the  large  number  of 
persons  who  partook  of  the  hospitalities  of  the  house  were 
ex-Governor  Seymour,  George  William  Curtis,  H.  A. 
Homes,  State  Librarian,  Hon.  George  Schuyler,  Alfred 
B.  Street,  B.  W.  Throckmorton,  Judge  A.  A.  Yates,  H. 
L.  Gladding,  Charles  S.  Lester  and  many  other  prominent 
men.  Speaking  within  bounds,  at  least  three  thousand 
people,  during  the  day  and  evening,  vis\ted  the  house. 
The  large  portico  with  its  high  columns  were  adorned 
with  curtains  elegantly  folded,  and  with  wreaths  and  fes- 
toons of  laurels  disposed  with  beautiful  and  tasteful  effect. 
Over  the  door-way  was  suspended  the  musket,  cartridge-box 
and  powder-horn  used  by  Col.  Strover  in  the  war  of  1812. 
Immediately  after  the  exercises  of  the  laying  of  the  corner 
stone,  the  Governor's  Foot  Guards  of  Hartford,  escorted  by 
Major  J.  C.  Parson  of  the  veteran  corps,  and  Major  W. 
H.  Talcott,  with  Colt's  Military  Band,  marched  to  the 
house;  and  upon  its  arrival  on  the  lawn,  paraded  inline  and 
saluted  the  old  mansion  and  Colonel  and  Mrs.  Strover, 
the  living  representatives  of  the  eighteenth  century.  The 
Guards  then  stacked  arms,  and  upon  entering  the  hospi- 
table mansion  were  tendered  refreshments.  They  inspected 


B  British  troops. 


'This  is  a  good  opportunity  to  correct  the  common  error — into  wliich  I 
have  myself  tallen  in  my  Life  of  General  Reidesel  —  thai  the  present  Schuy- 
ler Mansion  was  built  by  the  American  army  within  ten  days  after  the 
surrender.  The  massive  foundation  of  the  house  is  sufficient  of  itself  to 
refute  this  idea;  but  if  more  evidence  is  required,  we  have  the  testimony 
of  the  Marquis  de  Chastellux,  who,  visiting  Gen.  Schuyler  at  Saratoga  in 
1782  —  five  years  after  the  surrender  —  says  that  "there  is  nothing  to  be 
seen  but  some  barns  and  the  ruins  of  General  Schuyler's  house." 


22 


Ckntennial  Celebration  op 


ri 


all  the  quaint  and  curious  things  which  till  the  house  from 
cellar  to  garret.  Upon  their  deps  .'ture,  a  parting  salute 
was  given  ;  and  the  band,  which  had  executed  for  the  large 
number  of  guests  assembled  on  the  portico  and  lawn,  a 
number  of  brilliant  pieces  of  music,  then  played  "Home, 
Sweet  Home,"  and  marched  across  the  bridge  into  the 
village.  Major  W.  H.  Talcott  was  heard  to  remark  that 
this  visit  of  the  Guards  "was  one  of  the  most  pleasing 
which  he  should  remember  with  the  laying  of  the  corner 
stone  of  the  Saratoga  Monument." 

When  at  length  the  sun  went  down  behind  the  heights 
upon  which  Burgoync  had  [)itched  his  camp,  the  multitude 
slowly  dispersed  and  wended  its  way  through  the  streets  of 
the  vir-ge.  Broad  street  took  the  appearance  of  Broadway, 
New  York  City,  and  was  a  thoroughfare  of  closely  packed 
hacks,  stages,  wagons  and  horsemen  passing  and  re-pass- 
ing toward  the  several  roads  leading  to  their  homes.  At 
night,  the  street  with  its  pendant  flags  and  gayly  colored 
illuminated  lanterns;  its  thronging  people;  the  wild 
vociferations  of  the  street  venders ;  the  passing  of  uni- 
formed soldiers  ;  and  the  out  going  stages  filled  with  de- 
parting visitors,  made  it  a  scene  not  soon  to  be  forgotten 
by  the  citizens  of  Schuylerville.  '  ^ 


'  Tlie  centennial  exercises  were  continued  at  Schuylerville  throughout 
the  following  day.  The  village  presented  a  beautiful  appearance,  the 
artistic  decorations  and  beauties  still  attracting  attention.  Though  the 
crowd  was  not  as  large  as  the  previous  day,  yet  there  were  thousands  of 
people  present  —  all  happy  at  being  able  to  assist  in  prolonging  the  exer- 
cises of  the  preceding  day.  In  the  large  tents  on  Schuyler  square  hun- 
dreds were  banqueted,  tlie  supply  of  provisions  furnished  being  more  than 
amply  sufficient  to  meet  all  of  the  demands  made  upon  it.  The  grand 
stands  were  crowded  during  most  of  the  day,  and  the  corner  stone  was 
visited  by  thousands  of  people.  The  exercises  of  the  day  were  inter- 
spersed with  local  speeches,  music,  and  a  military  display  by  companies 
F  of  the  Tenth  regiment,  and  I  of  the  Twenty-fifth.  The  occasior.  was 
a  most  joyous  one;  and  to  sum  up,  the  citizens  of  Schuylerville  have  rea- 
son to  feel  proud  at  the  success  of  the  Centennial  Celebration  of  1877. — 
Schuylerville  Standard. 


THE  Surrender  of  Bur(ioynk. 


28 


iUe  throughout 
ppearance,  the 


As  night  shut  in  the  air  became  chilly,  and  the 
wind,  which  had  seemingly  waited  until  the  celebration 
was  ended,  now  swept  around  the  massive  foundation  of 
the  monument  and  over  the  high  table  land  with  a  hoarse, 
sullen  roar.  But  as  midnight  approached  the  breeze  was 
lulled  to  silence,  the  lights  of  the  village  disappeared ; 
the  difterent  sounds  from  the  haunts  of  men  ceased  ;  and 
a  gentle  silence  reigned  around.  Above  hung  a  broad 
and  sable  canopy  studded  with  countless  piancts ;  and 
around  stretched  the  weird-looking  horizon  apparently 
dying  away  into  the  gloom  of  that  strange  firmament. 
But  as  it  drew  on  towards  the  dawn,  the  stars,  led  ott"  by 
the  twin  Pleiades,  tripped  away  and  disappeared  one  by 
one;  and  the  light  of  another  day  rested  on  the  ground 
where  but  a  little  while  before,  had  been  gathered  a  vast 
multitude,  and  where,  amid  the  swelling  strains  of  mar- 
tial music,  had  been  collected  and  displayed,  in  one  grand 
view,  the  flags,  and  emblems,  and  costly  decorations, 
which,  in  a  continued  procession  called  forth  such  enthu- 
siasm of  admiration.  ,  It  was  one  of  those  few  bright  visions 
whose  evanescent  glory  is  allowed  to  light  up  the  path  of 
human  life  —  which,  as  they  are  passing,  we  feel  can  never 
return  ;  and  which,  while  diftusing  a  sensation  of  pleas- 
ing melancholy,  leads  up  the  mind  to  contemplation.  The 
splendor  of  beauty  and  the  triumph  of  art  sure  to    ^xcito, 


Nor,  before  bringing  our  narrative  to  a  close  should  we  neglect  to  sneak 
of  the  hospitality  displayed,  not  only  of  the  people  of  Schuylerville,  'mt 
also  of  those  of  Victory  Mills,  of  Northumberland,  of  Easton  and  of 
Greenwich.  These  people  gave  a  hearty  and  hospitable  welcome  to  all. 
Everyone  appreciated  the  bounteous  refreshments  provided  Ijy  them  and 
departed  with  loud  spoken  compliments  and  iiianks  for  the  goodly  enter- 
tainment. Mr.  Daniel  A.  BuUard,  also,  was  not  only  one  of  the  staunch- 
est  promoters  of  the  Saratoga  Monument,  but  on  the  day  of  the  celebra- 
tion, assisted  by  his  lovely  wife,  entertained  at  his  hospitable  mansion, 
Horatio  Seymour,  George  William  Curtis,  Henry  A.  Homes,  George  L. 
Schuyler,  Alfred  B.  Street,  Senator  Foster,  James  M.  Mann,  Gen.  Wilson, 
B.  W.  Throckmorton,  Governor  Robinson's  staff  and  many  others. 


24 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


to  dazzle  and  often  to  improve  the  condition  and  promote 
the  welfare  of  mankind  ;  but "  the  fashion  of  this  world 
passeth  away ;"  beauty  and  art,  with  all  their  triumphs 
and  splendors,  endure  but  for  a  season  ;  and  earth  itself, 
with  all  its  lakes  and  oceans,  its  woods  and  mountains,  is 
only  as  the  small  dust  of  the  balance  in  the  sight  of  Him 
who  dwells  beyond  the  everlasting  hills.^ 

OFFICERS  OF  THE  DAY. 

WEDNESDAY,  OCTOBER  17th,  1877. 

PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  DAY: 
Hon.  Charles  S.  Lester,  Sai*atoga  Springs,  N.  Y. 
Gen.  Edward  F.  Bullard,       "  " 

VICE-PRESIDENTS  AT  LARGE: 
George  L.  Schuyler,  New  York  City. 
Philip  Schuyler,  "        "        " 

Hon.  Charles  O'Connor,  New  York. 
William  Cullen  Bryant,     "        " 


(( 


'  Yesterday  will  long  be  remembered  in  the  history  of  this  country ;  and 
from  the  memories  of  all  who  participated  in  the  great  celebration,  it  will 
never  pass  away.  The  blue  sky,  the  gorgeous  colors  of  the  autumn  foli- 
age, the  smooth  flowing,  silver  Hudson,  the  delicious  air,  the  grand  old 
mountains  standing  like  sentinels  to  guard  the  spot  sacred  with  so  many 
heroic  associations,  the  brilliant  pageant,  the  impressive  ceremonies  at 
the  monument  which  commemorates  the  past,  honors  the  present,  and 
links  both  to  Uie  unborn  future,  the  grand  orations,  the  stirring  poems, 
the  illustrious  citizens  wlio  recalled  to  mind  the  great  deeds  which  those 
scenes  had  witnessed,  the  scenes  themselves  where  the  scepter  of  foreign 
dominion  had  forever  passed  away  and  America  awoke  from  a  splendid 
dream  of  Liberty  and  Independence  to  And  the  reality  more  glorious  than 
the  imagination  had  had  the  strength  to  picture  —  what  more  could  be 
asked  from  a  single  day !  As  we  stood  upon  the  monument,  and  our  eye 
rested  upon  the  splendid  panorama,  decorated  by  the  hand  of  nature  with 
a  skill  and  grandeur  at  which  man  can  only  wonder,  we  thought  of  the 
days  when  the  souls  of  our  fathers  had  been  tried  and  not  found  wanting, 
and  of  the  scene  here  upon  the  hallowed  ground  at  our  feet  which  had 
been  wet  with  their  blood,  and  where  with  a  joy  so  intense  that  it  was 
silent,  and  a  tender  chivalry  which  restrained  all  exultation  over  a  van- 
quished foe,  they  saw  their  proud  enemies  lay  down  their  arms,  and  they 
knew  that  their  final  victory  was  secure!  —  Saratogian,  Oct.  l&h,  1877. 


THE  Surrender  of  Burqoyne. 


25 


<( 


(( 


<( 


Hon.  Hamilton  Fish,  New  York. 

Ex-Governor  Hoffman,  "        " 

Hon.  Frederick  DePeystkr,  Pres.  N.  Y.  Historical  Society. 

Hon.  George  W.  Curtis,  New  York. 

Manton  Marble, 

Henry  B.  Dawson, 

Hon.  Ellis  H.  Roberts,  Utica. 

Hon.  William  J.  Bacon,     " 

E.  F.  DeLancey,  New  York  City. 

Thomas  W.  Olcott,  Albany. 

Joel  Munsell,  " 

J.  V.  L.  Pruyn,         •    « 

Hon.  Robert  S.  Hale,  Elizabethtown,  N.  Y. 

0.  H.  Marshall,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

Hon.  Hiland  Hall,  Bennington,  Vt. 

C.  M.  Bliss,  Sec.  Bennington  Mon.  Ass'n,  Bennington,  Vt. 

Giles  B.  Slocum,  Trenton,  Mich. 

James  McFarland,  New  Jersey. 

Ethan  Allen,  New  York. 

Wm.  H.  Thomas,  Bergen,  N.  J. 

Hon.  John  H.  Starin,  Fultonville. 

Parker  Handy,  New  York. 

John  F.  Seymour,  Utica. 

Hon.  B.  W.  Throckmorton,  Bergen,  N.  J. 

Hon.  Henry  G.  Root,  Bennington,  Vt. 

Maj.  a.  B.  Valentine,  "  " 

Hon.  M.  S.  Colburn,  Manchester,  Vt. 

Ex-Gov.  John  B.  Page,  Rutland,    " 

Lt.  Gov.  Redfield  S.  Proctor,  Rutland,  Vt. 

Lt.  Gov.  E.  J.  Phelps,  Burlington,  Vt. 

Ex-Gov.  John  "W.  Stewart,  Middlebury,  Vt. 

Hon.  Frederick  E.  Woodbridge,  Vergennes,  Vt. 

Wm.  H.  Clement,  Morrow,  Ohio. 

President  Potter,  Union  College,  Schenectady. 

Clarence  Bate,  Louisville,  Ky. 

Col.  John  Hay,  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

General  Stephen  D.  Kirk,  Charleston,  South  Carolina. 


SJ. 


»-j 


26 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


vm 


Saratoga  County. 

Saratoga  —  R.  English,  H.  Cramer,  Gborge  Strovbr,  H. 
SciDMORE,  E.  Raymond,  F.  Dodd,  F.  K.  Marshall,  W.  R. 
Clothier,  P.  Dennis,  G.  Wright,  Rev.  A.  F.  Bailey,  Rev. 
D.  K.  Van  Doren,  Rev.  G.  W.  Dean,  Rev.  H.  B.  Finnegan, 
N.  Bennett,  J.  Osborn. 

Saratoga  Springs — Hon.  James  M.  Marvin,  Hon.  A.  Bockes, 
Hon.  O.  L.  Barbour,  General  Joshua  T.  Blanchard, 
Stephen  H.  Richards,  President  Saratoga  Springs,  B.  F.  Jud- 
SON,  J.  W.  Crane,  C.  S.  Lester,  G.  L.  Ames. 

Ballston  —  G.  G.  Scott,  N.  Gilmour. 

Charlton  —  W.  B.  Consalus,  F.  D.  Curtis. 

Clifton  Park  —  J.  Peck,  H.  Parker. 

Corinth  —  E.  Edwards,  N.  M.  Houghton. 

Day  —  I.  W.  Guiles,  E.  Darling. 

Edinburgh  —  I.  No  yes,  jr.,  S.  H.  Torrey. 

Oalway  —  Dr.  Preston,  I.  Brockett. 

Hadley  —  C.  Rockwell,  A.  Palmer. 

Half  moon  —  H.  S.  Sheldon,  E.  D.  Ellsworth,  C.  Clute. 

Malta  —  Capt.  Rogers,  J.  Tripp. 

Milton  —  G.  West,  C.  B.  Kilmer,  H.  Knickerbacker. 

Moreau — J.  W.  Shurter,  W.  A.  Sherman. 

Northumberland —  A.  B.  Baucus,  A.  L.  Finne,  W.  Tice,  D. 
H.  Deyoe,  H.  Thompson. 

Providence  —  W.  3.  Clark,  P.  Mead. 

Stillwater — G.  W.  Neilson,  G.  A.  Ensign,  L.  Van  Demark. 

Waterford—  J.  B.  Enos,  D.  T.  Lamb. 

Wilton  —  B.  B.  Grippen,  C.  Boyce. 


Washington  County. 

Greenwich  —  R.  W.  Lober,  S.  L.  Stillman,  E.  Andrews. 
Easton  —  J.  A.  Van  Schaick,  L  Burton,  E.  W.  Hollister. 
Fort  Edward — J.  E.  King,  S.  MoKean,  A.  D.  Waite. 
Sandy  Hill — J.  Dwyer,  A.  L.  Allen. 
Fort  Ann  —  J.  Hall. 
Whitehall— W,  A.  Wilkins,  W.  PL  Tbpft. 


i    « 


IBACKER. 


,  W.  TiCE,  D. 


AN  DeMABK. 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne.  S7 

Granville — R.  C.  Betts. 
Argyle  —  A.  Barkley,  H.  Dodd. 
Hartford — M.  J.  Ingalsbee,  J.  M.  Noethup. 
Salem  —  J.  Gibson,  jr.,  S.  W.  Russell. 
Cambridge  —  J.  S.  Smart,  H.  Gordon. 

Warren  County. 

Gleii's  Mills  —  T.  S.  CooLiDGE,  W.  W.  Rockwell,  I.  Mott, 
H.  M.  Harris,  N.  Cole,  M.  B.  Little,  John  Keenan,  L.  G. 
McDonald,  Augustus  Sherman,  Jerry  Finch. 

Luzerne — B.  C.  Butler. 

Rensselaer  County. 

Schaghticoke  —  J.  A.  Quackenbusii,  J.  Kn^crerbacker. 

Troy  —  J.  M.  Francis,  A.  G.  Johnson,  J.  B.  Parmenter,  E. 
L.  Fursman,  M.  I.  TowNSEND,  Mayor  Murphy,  I.  McConihe, 
J.  J.  Filkins. 

Albany  County. 
Albany  —  Mayor  Banks,  J.  W.  Smith,  C.  E.  Smith,  A.  A. 
Keyes,  L.  Thompson. 

Cohoes  —  C.  H.  Adams,  D.  J.  Johnson. 

Schenectady  County. 
C.  Sanford,  Ex-Mayor  Hunter. 

Montgomery  County. 
C.  B.  WiNEGAR,  A.  W.  Kline,  F.  Fish. 


Clinton  County. 


S.  M.  Weed. 


SECRETARIES: 

W.  L.  Stone,  Secretary  Monument  Association  New  York. 
E.  W.  B.  Canning,  Cor.  Sec.  Saratoga  Monument  Ass'n. 
D.  F.  Ritchie,  A.  S.  Pease,  E.  J.  Huling,  Saratoga  Springs. 
n.  L.  Grose,  W.  S.  Waterbury,  Ballston  Spa. 
R.  L.  Palmateer,  Waterford. 
H.  C.  MoRHousE,  Greenwich. 


28 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


H.  D.  Morris,  Salem. 
H.  T.  Blanchard,  Fort  Edward. 
J.  L.  McArthub,  Granville. 
J.  H.  CusHMAN,  Benuington. 

GRAND  MARSHAL. 
Gen.  W.  B.  French,  Saratoga  Springs. 

ASSISTANT  MARSHALS: 

Saratoga  Springs  —  Capt.  B.  F.  Judson,  Col.  F.  R.  Andes, 
Maj.  W.  J.  RiGGs,  Surgeon  Wm.  H.  Hall,  Col.  Hiram 
RoDGERs,  Col.  B.  C.  Butler,  Col.  Wm.  Q.  Barrett,  Capt. 
A.  A.  Patterson,  J.  W.  Lester,  R.  A.  Heminwat,  Capt.  W. 
W.  WoRDEN,  Capt.  James  M.  Andrews,  jr.,  Hiram  Owen, 
Maj.  E.  T.  BRACKErr,  Capt.  E.  P.  Howe,  Ebenezer  Holmes, 
Capt.  P.  F.  Allen,  Samuel  F.  Corey. 

Balhton  Spa  —  Col.  C.  T.  Peck,  Capt.  W.  W.  French. 

Stillwater  —  Capt.  L.  Van  Demark,  Capt.  Thomas. 

Greenwich  —  Dr.  Gray. 

Schuylerville  —  Capt.  George  Robinson,  D.  S.  Potter,  A. 
Welch,  J.  S.  Dillinbeck,  C.  H.  McNaughton,  S.  McCreedy, 
P.  S.  Wheeler,  Pr.  N.  C.  Harris,  Lieutenants  Dillinbeck, 
Fletcher,  Pennock. 

Albany — Gen.  Dickerman. 

Troy  —  Gen.  Carr. 

Sandy  Hill — Gen.  Charles  Hughes. 

Luzerne  —  Col.  B.  C.  Butler. 

COMMITTEES: 

Reception  — N.  C.  Harris,  N.  J.  Seelye,  O.  Brisbin,  F.  Gow, 
H.  A.  McRea. 

Music  —  C.  M.  Dennis,  S.  R.  Lawrence,  J.  T.  Smith,  J.  O. 
Hannum. 

Finance  —  S.  Sheldon,  G.  F.  Watson,  W.  H.  Smith,  A.  M. 
Greene,  H.  C.  Holmes,  S.  Thorn,  S.  F.  Brott,  J.  Billinos, 
JR.,  J..R.  Deyoe. 

Entertainment  —  E.  Doolittle,  J,  H.  DeRidder,  R.  N. 
Atwell,  C.  E.  Ingerson,  E.  C.  Bullard,  M.  B.  Gbippen. 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


29 


Transportation  —  J.  H.  Dillingham,  T.  Toohky,  G.  H.  Ben- 
nett, C.  E.  Washburn. 

Decoration  —  G,  P.  Laing,  R.  W.  Rice,  I.  Whitman,  F. 
McNaughton,  B.  J.  Bristol. 

Military  —  D.  S.  Potter,  A.  Welch,  J.  S.  Dillinbeck,  C. 
H.  McNaughton,  S.  McCreedy,  P.  S.  Wheeler. 

Grounds  and  battle  Jigld  arrangements  —  W.  P.  Ostrander, 
W.  P.  Finch,  H.  Marshall,  S.  Winney,  D.  Craw. 

Auditing  —  D.  Dean,  R.  Sutfin,  T.  Sweet. 

Printing  —  R.  Mingay,  jr.,  Chas.  F.  Paul,  C.  H.  Atwell, 
E.  M.  Carhart. 


ORDER  OF  THE  DAY. 

National  salute  at  sunrise  by  Battery  B,  Captain  A.  H.  Green. 
The  procession  will  be  formed  on  Schuyler  Square,  11:30  a.  m., 
iu  the  following  order : 

FIRST  DIVISION. 

Platoon  of  Police  ;  Gen.  W.  B.  French,  chief  marshal  ;  chief 
marshal's  staff,  Capt.  B.  F.  Judson,  Col.  F.  li  Andes,  Maj. 
W.  J.  Riggs,  Surgeon  Wm.  H.  Hall,  Col., Hiram  Rodgers, 
Col.  B.  C.  Butler,  Col.  Wm.  Q.  Barrett,  Capt.  A.  A.  Patter- 
son, J.  W.  Lester,  R.  A.  Heminway,  Capt.  W.  W.  Worden, 
Capt.  James  M.  Andrews,  Jr.,  Hiram  Owen,  Maj.  E.  T.  Brack- 
ett,  Capt.  E.  P.  Howe,  Ebenezer  Holmes^  Capt.  P.  F.  Allen, 
S.  F.  Corey,  Saratoga  Springs  ;  Col.  C.  T.  Peck,  Capt.  W. 
W.  French,  Ballston  Spa. ;  Cap  L.  Van  Deinark,  Stillwater  ; 
Capt.  Geo.  Robinson,  Capt.  Thomas,  Dr.  Gray,  D.  S.  Potter, 
A.  Welch,  J.  S.  Dillenbeck,  C.  H.  McNaughton,  S.  McCreedy, 
P.  S.  Wheeler,  Dr.  N.  C.  Harris,  Lieutenants  Dillenbeck, 
Fletcher,  Pennock,  Schuylerville  ;  Doring's  Band  of  Troy  ; 
Co.  F's  Drum  Corps  ;  Co.  F,  Tenth  regiment,  Capt.  George 
D.  Weidman  commanding,  of  Albany  ;  Co.  I's  drum  corps  ; 
Co.  I,  Twenty-fifth  regiment,  Capt.  Walker  commanding,  of 
Albany  ;  First  Company  Governor's  Foot  Guards  of  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  in  old  English  uniform  worn  in  the  reign  of 
George   IH ;  W.   H.   Talcott,  Maj.  Com.  Battalion  ;  Colt's 


30 


Cenntennial  Celebration  op 


Band,  Hartford,  Conu.,  Tlios.  G.  Adkins,  leader ;  Capt.  A. 
H.  Wiley  Com.  first  company  ;  Lieut.  R.  D.  BuiJick  Cora, 
second  company  ;  Lieut.  S.  E.  Hascall  Com.  third  company  ; 
Lieut.  W.  E.  Eaton  Com.  fouith  company  ;  Park  Guards 
Band  ;  Park  Guards  of  Bennington,  Vt.,  Capt.  O.  N.  Wilcox, 
commander  ;  Hughes  Light  Guards  of  Glen's  Falls,  Capt. 
Gleesettle,  commanding  ;  Whitehall  Band  ;  Burleigh  Corps, 
Capt.  Tho's  Hall,  commanding,  Whitehall  Band. 

SECOND  DIVISION. 
Sir  Townsend  Fonda,  R.  E.  Grand  Commander  ;  Sir  Chas.  H. 
Holden,  V.  D.  Grand  Commander  :  Sir  Knight,  B.  F.  Judson  ; 
Ballston  Spa  Cornet  Band  ;  Washington  Commandery  of 
Saratoga  Springs  ;  Seventy-seventh  Regiment  Band,  Saratoga 
Springs  ;  Apollo  Commandery  of  Troy  ;  Temple  Command- 
ery No.  2,  of  Albany  ;  Schenectady  Band  ;  St.  George's 
Commandery,  No.  37,  Schenectady,  N.  Y.;  De  Soto  Com- 
mandery No.  49,  of  Plattsburgh  ;  Schuylerville  Band  ;  Holy 
Cross  Commandery,  Gloversville,  N.  Y. ;  Lafayette  Com- 
mandery, Hudson,  N.  Y. ;  Little  Falls  Commandery,  Little 
Falls,  N.  Y. ;  Killington  Commandery,  Rutland,  Vt.;  Tefft 
Commandery,  Bennington,  Vt. ;  Master  Masons  ;  Ashler  Lodge, 
No.  584,  Greenwich,  N.  Y.;  Montgomery  Lodge,  No.  504, 
Stillwater,  N.  Y.;  Schuyler  Lodge,  No.  676,  Schuylerville,  N. 
Y.;  Rising  Sun  Lodge,  No.  103,  Saratoga  Springs,  N.  Y.; 
Fort  Edward  Lo^ge,  No.  267,  Fort  Edward,  N.  Y.;  Home 
Lodge,  No.  398,  Northumberland,  N.  Y.;  Grand  Master  of 
Master  Masons  of  the  state  of  New  York,  M.  W.  J.  J.  Couch  ; 
Grand  Lodge  of  the  State  of  New  York. 

THHID  DIVISION. 

Capt.  W.  W.  Worden,  assistant  marshal,  commanding  ;  New 
York  State  officials  ;  Presidents  of  the  day  ;  orators  ;  poets  ; 
speakers  ;  clergy  and  chaplain  in  carriages  ;  Bemis  Heights 
Centennial  committee  ;  the  Saratoga  Monument  Association  ; 
descendants  of  Revolutionary  soldiers  ;  invited  guests  ;  Con- 
tinental Cavalry,  from  Saratoga,  Major  P\'issett,  commanding  ; 
his  excellency,  Governor  Robinson,  re'presented  in  the  persons 
of  General  J.  B.  Stonehouse  and  General  A.  H.  Taylor. 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


81 


tors  ;  poets  ; 


ROUTE  OP  MARCH. 
Gates  avenue  to  Grove  street  ;  Grove  to  Pearl  ;  Pearl  to  Bur- 
goyne ;  Burgoyne  co  Broad  ;  Broad  to  Spring  ;  Spring  to 
Church  ;  Church  to  Burgoyne  ;  Burgoyne  to  Pearl  ;  Pearl 
to  Saratoga  ;  Saratoga  to  Green  ;  Green  to  Burgoyne  ;  Bur- 
goyne to  Monument  grounds,  where  a  hollow  square  will  be 
formed  by  the  military  outside  the  Knight  Templars,  and  the 
corner  stone  of  the  Monument  laid  by  M.  W.  J.  J.  Couch, 
Grand  Master,  and  R.  W.  Edmond  L.  Judson,  Deputy  Grand 
Master  Masons  of  the  state  of  New  York.  After  which 
ceremony  the  procession  will  march  down  Burgoyne  to  Pearl ; 
Pearl  to  Grove,  thence  to  Schuyler  square,  where  the  follow- 
ing exercises  will  take  place  at  the 

First  Grand  Stand. 
Music,  Boring's  Band, 
Prayer,  Uev.  Rufus  W.  Cj  ark,  D.  D.,  of  Albany,  Chaplain. 

Music. 

Introductory  address  by  the  President  of  the  Day, 

Hon.  Charles  S.  Lester. 

Music. 

Oration  by  Ex-Governor  Horatio  Seymour. 

Oration  by  George  William  Curtis. 

Music. 

Poem,  by  Alfred  B.  Street, 

Read  by  Col.  E.  P.  Howe. 

Music. 
Address  by  Hon.  Lafayette  S.  Foster. 

Second  Grand  Stand. 

Music,  Colt's  Army  Band,  Hartford,  Conn. 

Prayer,  Rev.  J.  E.  King,  of  Fort  Edward,  N.  Y.,  Chaplain. 

Music. 
Introductory  address,  Hon.  Geo.  W.  Schuyler,  Pres,  of  the  Day. 


l:    ■f.l 


32 


Centennial  Celebration  op 


Music, 
Historical  address  by  William  L.  Stone. 

Address  by  Hon.  B.  W.  Thjrockmorton,  of  New  Jersey, 

Subject,  Arnold. 

Music. 

Fitz  Green  Halleck's  Field  of  the  Grounded  ArmSy  read  by 

Halleck's  Biographer,  Gen.  James  Grant  Wilson. 

Addresses  by  Hon.  A.  A.  Yates  and  H.  L.  Gladding. 

Ode  by  Gen.  J.  Watts  DePeystee, 

Read  by  Ret.  D.  K.  Van  Doren. 

The  Star  Spangled  Banner,  arranged  for  the  anniversary    of 

Burgoyne's  surrender  by  Col.  B.  C.  Butler, 

Read  by  William  L.  Stone. 

Letters  from  Benson  J.  Lossing,  Mrs.  Ellen  H.  Walworth, 

Giles  B,  Slocum  and  Stephen  D.  Kirk,  of  Charleston,  S.  C, 

Read  by  Col.  D.  F.  Ritchie. 

Short  addresses,  by  Hon.  Algernon  S.  Sullivan  and  E.  L. 

FURSMAN. 


GRAND  BANQUET. 
Brilliant    Military    spectacle    representing    the   surrender   of 

Burgoyne's  army. 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoynb. 


88 


ADDING. 


CEREMONIES  AT  THE  LAYING  OF  THE  CORNER 
STONE  OF  THE  SARATOGA  MONUMENT 

BT  THB 

Grand  Lodge  of  the  State  of  New  York. 


urrender   of 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

Wm.  L.  Stone  to  .1.  J.  Couch,  Grand  Master  op  State  of  New  York. 

New  York  City,  Sept.  7,1877. 
J.  J.  Couch,  O.  M.  State  of  N.  ?.  .• 

My  Dear  Sir:  The  citizens  of  Scbuylerville,  N.  Y.,  have  requested 
the  Saratoga  Monument  Association  to  invite  the  Grand  Master  and 
Grand  Lodge  of  the  State  of  New  York,  to  lay  tlie  corner  stone  of  the 
Saratoga  Monument,  to  commemorate  the  surrender  of  General  Burgoyne, 
on  the  17th  of  Oct.  next. 

I  need  not  say,  sir,  in  being  the  instrument  of  conveying  this  invitation, 
how  much  pleasure  it  would  give  the  Saratoga  Monument  Association  to 
have  this  invitation  accepted;  and  if  you  could  make  it  convenient,  your- 
self, to  attend  and  perform  this  august  ceremony,  it  would,  doubtless, 
gratify  not  only  the  masons  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  but  the  fraternity 
throughout  the  United  States. 

Washington,  who,  through  Scl>dyler,  planned  the  campaign,  which  won 
the  battle  of  Saratoga,  was  a  mason  ;  and,  therefore,  aside  from  the  respect 
which  we  pay  to  living  masons,  we  pay  —  and  you,  sir,  pay  in  this  also  — 
homage  to  the  memory  of  one  of  its  greatest  and  most  revered  members. 

No  expense,  permit  me  to  add,  will  be  suffered  to  be  incurred  by  the 
Grand  Lodge  while  our  guests.  Hoping  for  a  favorable  reply,  I  remain 
respectfully  yours, 

William  L.  Stone, 
Sec'y  Saratoga  Monument  Association. 


J.  J.  Couch  to  Wm.  L.  Stone. 
•  New  York,  Sept.  14, 1877. 

Wm.  L.  Stone,  Esq.,  Secretat'p  of  the  Saratoga  Monument  Association : 

My  Dear  Sir:  I  have  received  your  letter  of  invitation,  conveying 
the  wish  of  the  good  people  of  Scbuylerville  and  your  associates,  that  the 
corner  stone  of  the  Saratoga  Monument  should  be  laid  by  the  Grand 


1    ■:! 


1    1 


84 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


Master  of  Masons  in  the  State  of  New  York ;  and  that  this  service  should 
be  performed  on  llie  17th  of  October  prox,  in  connection  witii  the  celebra- 
tion of  the  centennial  of  Burgoyne's  Surrender. 

Your  cordial  invitation  is  cheerfully  accepted;  and,  in  company  with 
the  officers  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  New  York,  I  will  attend  at  the  ap- 
])ointed  time  and  place,  prepared  to  perform  tiie  ceremony  of  laying  the 
corner  stone  in  "ample  form"  according  to  the  time-honored  usage  of  our 
fraternity.  Riglit  worshipful  John  C.  Boak,  Grand  Marshal,  will  lake 
charge  of  the  preliminary  arrangements  on  the  part  of  the  Grand  Lodge. 
Address  No.  8,  Fourth  avenue.  New  York  City. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

J.  J.  Couch, 

Orund  Master. 

LAYING  OF  THE  CORNER  STONE. 

The  ceremony  of  i)lacing  the  corner  stone  into  its  position  was  con- 
ducted by  M.  W.  J.  J.  Couch,  Grand  Master  of  Masons  of  the  state  of 
New  York.  He  first  recited  the  invitation  to  the  Grand  Lodge  to  per- 
form the  ceremony,  and  then  called  up  the  Grand  Lodge'  by  saying: 

"  The  first  duty  of  masons  in  any  undertaking  is  to  invoke  the  blessing 
of  the  Great  Architect  upon  their  work.     Let  us  pray." 

Invocation  by  the  Grand  Chaplain. 

Thou  Supreme  Architect.  Thou  Master  builder  of  tlie  universe.  Thou 
who  Last  made  all  things  by  the  word  of  Thy  power.  Thou  who  hast 
formed  the  earth  and  the  world,  from  everlasting  to  everlasting  Tiiou  art 
God.  Thou  art  He  whom  we  worship  and  adore,  and  in  whom  we  are 
taught  to  put  our  trust,  and  whose  blessing  we  seek  in  every  undertaking 
in  life  and  in  all  the  work  of  our  hands.  Thou,  O  God,  hast  blessed  the 
fraternity  before  thee,  and  prospered  them  in  numbers,  in  strength  and 
in  influence,  so  tliat  we  are  here  assembled  as  Tliy  servants  and  as  mem- 
bers of  the  ancient  and  honorable  craft  to  iiegin  the  erection  of  a  monu- 
ment which  we  devoutly  trust  shall  stand  as  a  monument  for  future  gene- 
rations to  the  praise  and  glory  of  Thy  name.  Grant  Thy  blessing,  O 
Lord  God,  upon  this  enterprise,  that  It  may  be  carried  to  successful  com- 
pletion, and  may  answer  the  end  for  which  it  was  designed.  That  each 
of  us  may  so  adorn  our  minds  and  hearts  with  grace  that  we  mpy  befitted 
as  living  stones  for  that  spiritual  building,  that  house  not  made  with  hands ; 
eternal  in  the  heavens;  and  unto  Thy  holy  and  ever  blessed  name  will 
we  ascribe  honor  and  praise,  through  Jesus  Christ,  our  Redeemer.     Amen. 

The  Grand  Master  then  said :    "The  Grand  Treasurer  will  now  place  in 


>The  Grand  Lodge  was  made  up  of  M.  W.  Joseph  J.  Couch,  Grand  Master,  R.  W. 
Kdmond  L.  Judson,  Deputy  Grand  Master ;  M.  W.  James  Gibs-on,  Senior  Grand  Warden  ; 
R.  W.  Benjamin  Fla/ier,  Junior  Grand  Warden ;  R.  W.  Gregory  Satturlee,  Grand  Treas- 
urer; William  T.  Woodruff,  Grand  Secretary;  R.  W.  and  Rev.  John  G.  Webster,  Grand 
Chaplain  ;  R.  W.  John  C.  Boak,  Grand  Marshal ;  R.  W.  Williiim  E.  Fitch,  Grand  Stand- 
ard Bearer;  R.  W.  Edwin  Gates,  Grand  Sword  Bearer;  R.  W.  Albert  Parker,  Grand 
Steward  ;  R.  W.  William  Scott,  Grand  Steward  ;  R.  W.  Anthony  Yeoman,  Grand  Steward; 
R.  W.  John  G.  Barlvcr,  Grand  Steward  ;  R.  W.  Stephen  L.  Stillman,  Senior  Grand  Dea- 
con ;  R.  W.  John  M.  Riley,  Junior  Grand  Deacon ;  R.  W.  John  A.  De  Remer,  Grand 
Pursuivant,  and  R.  W.  John  Hoole,  Grand  Tiler. 


List  of  Ar 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgotnb. 


35 


tlie  corner  stone  articles  prepared  for  tlic  purpose,"  which  was  done.  The 
Grand  Master  tiien  said :  "  The  Grand  Secretary  will  read  a  list  of  the 
articles  so  deposited." 

List  of  Auticlks  Deposited  in  the  CoK^EI^  Stone  op  the  Sakatoga 
Monument,  Oct.  17th,  1877. 

A  history  of  the  Saratoga  Monument  Association  by  its  secretary,  Wm. 
L.  Stone. 

A  copy  of  the  Bible  translated  out  of  the  original,  presented  by  the 
Saratoga  county  Bible  society. 

Burgoyne's  Campaign  and  St.  Leger's  Expedition  by  Wm.  L.  Stone. 

A  copy  of  Mrs.  Willard's  history,  and  an  American  flag,  presented  by 
R.  N.  Atwell. 

Mrs.  Ellen  Hardin  Walworlli's  Visitors  Guide :  Saratoga,  the  Battle  and 
Battle-grounds. 

Gen.  Schuyler  and  the  Burgoyne  Campaign  of  1777  —  the  annual  ad- 
dress delivered  by  Gen.  John  Watts  DePeyster,  before  the  New  York 
Historical  Society,  Jan.  1877. 

Saratoga  County,  an  historical  address  by  Geo.  G.  Scott,  and  a  centen- 
nial address  by  J.  L.  L'Amoreaux. 

Saratoga  and  Kay-ad-ros-se-ra,  a  centennial  address  by  N.  B.  Sylvester. 

The  Burgoyne  Campaign ;  an  address  delivered  on  the  battle  field  on 
tlie  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  battle  of  Bemis's  Heights,  Sept. 
19lh,  1877,  by  John  Austin  Stevens. 

History  of  Saratoga  and  the  Burgoyne  Campaign  of  1777 ;  an  address 
by  Gen.  Edward  F.  Bullard. 

An  address  to  the  American  people  in  behalf  of  a  monument,  to  be 
erected  in  commemoration  of  the  victory  of  the  American  army  at  Sara- 
toga, under  Gens.  Schuyler,  Gates  and  Morgan,  Oct.  17th,  1777,  by  J.  C. 
Markham. 

Leading  industrial  pursuits  of  Glen's  Falls,  Sandy  Hill  and  Fort  Ed- 
ward, by  J.  S.  Buckley. 

A  silver  half  dollar  coin  of  George  IH,  dated  1777,  and  one  of  the  Uni- 
ted States,  dated  1877,  deposited  by  Alanson  Welch,  president  of  the 
village. 

Memorial  of  the  opening  of  the  New  York  and  Canada  railway,  pre- 
sented by  Edward  F.  Bullard. 

Song,  commemorative  of  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne,  arranged  by  Col. 
B.  C.  Butler  of  Luzerne. 

Annual  report  of  llie  canal  commissioners  of  the  state  of  New  York. 

Kecords  of  Schuyler  Lodge,  No.  176,  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  Home  Chapter, 
No.  176,  R  A.  M. 

A  photograph  of  the  monument  from  the  architect's  drawing. 

The  cards  of  John  and  Samuel  Mathews,  and  E.  F.  Simmons,  the 
operative  masons  who  built  the  foundation,  base  and  corner  stone  of  the 
monument. 


36 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


The  architects'  statement  of  the  progress  of  the  work  of  building  the 
founduiion,  base  and  corner  stone.     D.  A.  Bullard  in  charge. 

Prospectus  of  the  Bennington  Battle  Monument  Association ;  forthcom- 
ing volume  on  the  Bennington  centennial  of  the  weelcofthe  16tU  of 
August,  1B77. 

A  pamphlet  containing  a  statement  of  the  Bennington  Historical  So- 
ciety, and  an  account  of  tlie  battle  of  Bennington,  by  ex-Gov.  Hiland 
Hall,  published  in  March,  1877. 

The  Standaud  (daily)  of  Schuylerville ;  The  Saratoga  County 
Standaud  (weekly),  Schuylerville  ;  copy  of  the  Troy  Daily  Press,  Troy; 
Daily  Times,  Troy  ;  Daily  Whig,  Troy ;  Northern  Budget,  Troy ;  Troy 
Observer,  Sunday  Trojan;  Daily  Saratogian,  Saratoga  Sun  ;  Argus,  Press, 
Express,  Journal, Times,  and  Post,  of  Albany;  Herald,  Times,  Tribune, 
Sun,  World  and  Express,  of  New  York  city. 

The  grand  master  then  spread  the  cement  upon  the  stone. 

Music  by  the  band  and  the  stone  was  lowered  to  its  place. 

The  grand  master  then  seating  the  lodge  proceeded  as  follows : 

G.  M. —  Brother  D.  G.  M.  what  is  the  jewel  of  your  office? 

D.  G.  AI.  —  The  square. 

G.  M.  —  What  does  it  teach  ?. 

D.  G.  M.  —  To  square  our  action  by  the  square  of  virtue,  and  by  it  we 
prove  our  work. 

G.  M.  —  Apply  your  jewel  to  this  corner  stone  and  make  report. 

(Done.) 

D.  G.  M.  —  The  stone  is  square,  the  craftsmen  have  done  their  duty. 

G.  M.  —  Brother  S.  G.  W.,  what  is  the  jewel  of  your  office? 

8.  G.  W,  —  The  level. 

G.  M.  —  What  does  it  teach  ? 

S.  G.  W.  — The  equality  of  all  men,  and  by  it  we  prove  our  work. 

G.  M.  —  Apply  your  jewel  to  this  corner  stone  and  make  report. 

(Done.) 

8.  G.  W.  —  The  stone  is  level,  the  craftsmen  have  done  their  duty. 

G.  M.  — Brother  J.  G.  W.,  what  is  the  jewel  of  your  office  ? 

J.  G.  W.  — The  plumb. 

G.  M.  —  What  does  it  teach  ? 

J.  G.  W.  —  To  walk  upright  before  God  and  man,  and  by  it  we  prove 
our  work. 

G.  M.  —  Apply  your  jewel  to  this  corner  stone  and  make  report. 

(Done.) 

J.  G.  W.  —  The  stone  is  plumb,  the  craftsmen  have  done  their  duty. 

The  senior  and  grand  deacons  advanced  to  the  stone  bearing  trowel 
and  gavel.  The  grand  master,  preceded  by  the  grand  marshal,  ad- 
vanced to  the  stone,  took  the  trowel  and  spread  cement,  then  took  the 
gavel  and  struck  three  blows  on  the  stone,  retired  to  his  station  and  said : 

I,  John  J.  Couch,  grand  master  of  the  masons  of  the  state  of  New  York, 
declare  this  stone  to  be  plumb,  level  and  square,  to  be  well  formed,  true 
and  trusty,  and  duly  laid. 


^  (T 


THE  SUKRENDER  OF  BuRGOYNE. 


37 


"•  it  we  prove 


The  grand  stewards  proceeded  to  the  stone,  followed  by  D.  Q.  M.,  8. 
G.  W.,  bearing  the  corn,  wine  and  oil. 

The  D.  G.  M.,  scattering  the  corn,  said: 

May  the  blessing  of  the  Great  Architect  of  the  universe  rest  upon  the 
])oo|)le  of  this  state  and  the  corn  of  nourishment  abound  in  our  land. 

The  S.  G.  W.,  pouring  the  wine,  said : 

May  the  Great  Arcl>ilect  of  the  universe  watch  over  and  protect  the 
workmen  upon  this  monument  and  bless  them  and  our  laud  with  the 
heavenly  wine  of  refreshment  and  peace. 

The  J.  Q.  W.,  pouring  the  oil,  said: 

May  tlie  Great  Arcliilect  of  the  niiverne  bless  our  land  with  union,  har- 
mony and  love,  the  oil  wliich  maketii  man  be  of  joyful  countenance. 

The  grand  marshal  presented  tiie  architect,  saying  : 

I  present  the  architect  of  this  monument.  He  is  ready  with  craflsmco 
for  the  work  and  asked  tlie  tools  for  liis  task. 

The  grand  master  handed  him  the  plumb,  level  and  square,  and  directed 
him  to  proceed  with  his  work. 

The  grand  master  then  said : 

Men  and  brethren,  we  have  assembled  here  to-day  as  regular  masons, 
bound  by  solemn  engagements  to  be  good  cili/xms,  faithful  to  the  breth- 
ren, and  to  fear  God.  We  have  commenced  the  erection  of  a  monument 
which  we  pray,  may  be  a  memorial  for  ages  to  come.  May  wisdom, 
strength  and  beauty  abound,  and  the  fame  and  usefulness  of  our  ancient 
and  honorable  institution  be  greatly  promoted. 

Benediction. 

•The  grand  marshal  then  made  the  following  proclamation: 

In  the  name  of  the  most  worshipful  grand  lodge  of  free  and  accepted 
masons  of  the  state  of  New  York,  I  pr(jclaim  that  the  corner  stone  ot  this 
monument  has  this  day  been  found  square,  level  and  plum!),  true  and 
trusty,  and  laid  according  to  the  old  custom  by  the  grand  master  of 
masons. 

The  grand  master,  thereupon  turning  to  the  audience,  made  the  follow- 
ing address : 

Address  of  Grand  Master,  J.  J.  Couch. 

We  are  standing  upon  historic  ground  ;  as  citizens  we  join  in  commem- 
orating the  events  of  one  hundred  years  ago.  As  masons  we  bring  to  the 
present  undertaking  the  symbol  and  traditions  of  antiquity  far  more  re- 
mote. The  story  of  the  campaign  which  gives  special  interest  to  the  day 
will  be  recited  by  eloquent  orators  who  are  present  witli  us.  It  is  my 
office  to  say  a  word  with  reference  to  the  masonic  work  this  day  per- 
formed. We  hold  to  this  truth,  that  the  controlling  and  characteristic 
thoughts  of  a  people  crystallize  an<l  take  permanent  form  in  their  archi- 
tecture. That  is  alike  true  of  the  past  and  the  present ;  we  know  not  how 
long  the  material  may  have  been  in  solution,  orfor  iiow  many  generations 
the  process  of  crystallization  may  have  proceeded  among  the  ancient 
Egyptians.    That  process,  is  however,  clearly  brought  down  to  us  in  the 


38 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


pyramids,  the  obelisks,  the  spliinx  ;  the  square  massive  portals  surmounted 
by  winged  globes,  all  speaking  the  predominant  characteristic  of  aystery, 
which  has  come  down  to  us  from  that  people.  In  Greece  the  same  pro- 
cess of  crystallization  is  found  with  its  nucleus  at  the  Acropolis  at  Athens, 
and  the  result  of  that  process  comes  down  to  us  in  the  single  word  — 
classic  art.  Passing  on  to  Italy,  we  find  the  same  process  again  taking  the 
form  of  empire.  The  story  of  the  feudal  ages  is  plainly  written  in  the 
ruins  of  the  castles  along  the  banks  of  the  Rhine.  The  early  architecture 
of  England  also  tells  its  own  story.  In  sacred  story  we  have  an  account 
of  a  pilgrimage,  the  thread  of  which  commences  with  the  mysteries  of 
Egypt  and  running  through  tlie  Red  sea  and  the  wilderness,  reaches  to 
Jerusalem,  where  the  pilgrims  builded  the  temple.  From  here  we  have 
the  story  of  another  movement,  commencing  with  the  apostles,  taking  in 
its  way  something  from  the  philosophy  ot  Alexandria,  something  of  the 
classic  art  of  Greece,  and  gathering  to  itself  also  the  power  of  the  Roman 
empire. 

This  movement  received  its  characteristic  architectural  illustration  in 
the  swelling  dome  of  St.  Peters,  and  in  the  magnificent  Gothic  architecture 
which  spread  over  Europe.  These  various  forms  were  the  landmarks 
which  permanently  fixed  the  ideas  of  different  peoples  and  ages. 

Crossing  to  this  country  the  process  of  crystallization  is  still  going  on. 
The  interest  of  to-day  centres  upon  the  closing  events  of  a  campaign 
memorable  in  our  nation's  history.  In  laying  the  corner  stone  we  essay 
to  make  permanent  the  record  of  these  events.  The  thousands  of  people 
here  assembled  will  separate  never  to  meet  again ;  the  orators  of  the  oc- 
casion and  their  orations  will  after  a  time  pass  from  the  public  mind. 
The  one  permanent  fact  which  sliall  remain  to  recall  the  tradition  asso- 
ciated with  this  spot  will  be  the  monument  this  day  commenced,' 

The  exercises  were  then  brought  to  an  end  by  the  benediction, 


EXERCISES  AT  THE  SOUTH  STAND,  HON.  CHARLES 
S.  LESTER  PRESIDING. 

Prayer  by  the  Rev.  Rufus  W.  Clark,  D.D.,  of  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Almighty  and  everlasting  Father,  we  adore  Thee  as  the  Sovereign  of 
the  universe  and  the  fountain  of  every  blessing.  We  rejoice  in  Thee 
as  our  Creator,  Preserver  and  bountiful  Benefactor ;  and  that  in  Thee  we 
live,  move  and  have  our  being.  May  we  to-day  be  sensible  of  Thy  pre- 
sence, feel  the  influence  of  Thy  divine  love,  be  inspired  by  Divine  wisdom 
and  be  led  to  consecrate  our  whole  being  witii  all  we  have,  to  Thy  service. 

We  render  thanks  to  Thee,  that  Thou  didst  guide  our  fathers  to  the 
shores  of  this  continent,  and  protect  them  and  their  families  amid  the 
hardships  of  the  wilderness,  and  the  hostility  of  savage  tribes ;  and  that 
under  Thy  provideulial  direction  and  goodness  tiiey  were  enabled  to  lay 
broad  and  d(;ep  the  foundations  of  the  American  republic. 


'The  gavel  used  by  the  grand  master  on  this  occubIou  was  made  from  wojd  of  tlie  his- 
toric charter  oalc,  and  la  the  property  of  Manhattan  Lodge,  No.  Hi,  of  New  Yorlc  city. 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


89 


CHARLES 


LBANY,  N.   Y. 


We  bless  Thee  for  the  unity  of  spirit  and  patriotic  order  that  pervaded 
their  councils ;  and  for  the  wisdom,  bravery  and  noble  enthusiasm  that 
inspired  the  authors  of  the  Declaration  of  the  Independence  of  these  Uni- 
ted States.  We  thank  Thee  for  the  self-sacrificino;  devotion,  the  heroic 
fortitude  and  courage  of  the  officers  and  soldiers  who  were  enabled  to 
make  this  Declaration  a  living  fact,  attracting  the  attention  of  the  world, 
and  the  admiration  and  gratitude  of  the  friends  of  human  rights  and  civil 
liberty.  Especially  would  we  acknowledge  Thy  divine  interposition  and 
goodness  in  the  achievements  gained  for  the  American  cause  on  this  spot 
where  we  are  permitted  on  this  beautiful  day,  with  these  assembled  thou- 
sands, to  gather  to  commemorate  the  victories  of  the  past,  that  shed  such 
lustre  upon  our  military  forces,  inspired  our  people  with  fresh  hopes,  and 
so  largely  contributed  to  the  final  success  of  our  army. 

To  Thee  we  owe  our  fervent  gratitude,  for  the  establishment  of  the 
American  republic  with  its  free  institutions,  its  system  of  popular  educa- 
tion, its  just  laws,  and  pure  religious  faith.  Through  Tiiy  goodness  and 
watchful  care  we  have  enjoyed  a  century  of  rapid  development,  and  great 
prosperity  in  commerce,  agriculture,  art ;  and  in  all  the  means  that  con- 
tribute to  the  happiness  of  the  people,  and  the  stability  and  growth  of  the 
nation.  We  thank  Thee  for  peace  at  home,  and  respect  abroad,  and  we 
fervently  pray  that  in  the  future,  as  in  the  past,  our  flag  may  rei)resent,  in 
all  seas,  islands  and  continents  the  rights  of  man,  and  tiie  blessings  of 
freedom. 

Vouchsafe  to  us  the  continuance  of  Thy  parental  care,  and  Divine  pro- 
tection, and  guidance.  Bless  all  the  efforts  made  to  extend  the  principles 
of  our  holy  religion,  and  to  educate  the  people  to  revercnci;  Thy  word 
and  accept  it  as  a  lamp  to  their  feet,  and  a  light  to  their  path.  Stay  the 
progress  of  infidelity,  Sabbath  breaking,  intemperance,  licentiousness, 
fraud,  and  every  evil  that  weakens- the  republic,  and  perils  its  existence. 

Bless  Thy  servant,  the  President  of  these  United  States,  and  all  associ- 
ated witli  him  in  authority.  Attend  with  success  his  efforts  to  promote 
unity,  purify  the  government,  and  revive  business  tliroughout  the  whole 
land.  Give  wisdom  to  our  senators  and  representatives,  integrity  lo  our 
judges,  ability  and  discretion  to  our  foreign  ministers,  and  a  pure  and 
lofty  patriotism  to  all  who  occupy  positions  of  power,  honor  or  trust. 

Bless  Thy  servant,  the  Governor  of  this  State,  and  the  members  of  tlie 
Senate  nnd  Assembly.  May  such  laws  be  enacted,  and  such  measures 
retomniended  and  adopted  as  siiall  be  for  the  best  interests  of  this  com- 
monwealtii,  and  the  honor  of  Thy  lioly  name. 

Graciously  preside  over  the  deliberations  of  this  interesting  occasion. 
Aid  Thy  servants  who  shall  address  us.  Endue  tliem  richly  with  the 
sjiirit  of  humanity,  patriotism,  religion  ;  and  may  their  words  (ire  the 
hearts  of  the  vast  midlitude  before  them  witii  fresh  gratitude  and  ardent 
tlianksgiving  to  Thee,  and  with  new  resolution  and  zeal  to  maintain  our 
national  life  and  i)r()speriiy,  and  to  transmit  unimpaired  to  future  genera- 
tions the  precious  inheiilance  becpieatiied  to  us  by  our  fathers. 

Bestow  upon  each  individual  here  tlic  richest  of  spiritual  gifts.  Help 
us  to  love,  honor  and  serve  Thee.     May  we  have  strong  faith  in  thy  be- 


1-^ 


40 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


loved  Son,  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  grant  to  us  the  hope  of  a  glorious 
immortality. 

And  to  the  Father,  the  Son  and  the  Holy  Ghost  we  will  give  the  praise 
forever.    Amen. 


INTRODUCTORY    ADTjRESS    OF    HON.  CHARLES    S. 
LESTER,  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  DAY. 

Citizens  of  Saratoga,  and  Fellow  Citizens  of  our  great  Ameri- 
can Republic : 

It  has  been  the  custom  among  all  nations  which  have  attained 
to  any  degree  of  civilization  to  commemorate  with  appropriate 
ceremonies  the  returning  anniversaries  of  those  events  in  their 
histories  which  have  been  productive  of  great  results.  It  has 
been  the  custom  too,  upon  such  occasions,  to  pay  a  fitting 
tribute  to  those  whose  valor  and  wisdom  have  benefitted  the  peo- 
ple and  brought  advantage  to  the  state  and  to  contemplate  their 
achievements  with  gratitude  and  hold  up  their  example  to 
succeeding  generations  as  worthy  of  imitation. 

In  pursuance  of  such  a  custom  and  in  grateful  remembrance 
of  the  heroes  who  successfully  resisted  the  army  of  the  invaders 
upon  the  heights  of  Saratoga,  we  have  come  together  to  cele- 
brate the  centennial  anniversary  of  that  great  event  in  our  his- 
tory which  made  it  possible  for  us  to  assemble  here  to-day  as 
free  citizens  of  a  free  republic. 

It  was  on  the  13th  of  September,  a  hundred  years  ago,  in  full 
view  of  the  place  where  we  now  stand,  near  where  the  beautiful 
Battenkill  joins  the  majestic  Hudson,  that  a  proud  army,  under 
the  leadership  of  a  brave  general  who  had  won  distinction  on 
many  a  European  battlefield,  crossed  the  river  to  carry  out  the 
mandate  of  a  cruel  and  arbitrary  king,  and  to  crush,  if  possible, 
the  infant  colonies  which  were  struggling  for  independence. 

This  army,  carefully  equipped  and  furnished  in  abundance 
with  all  the  munitions  of  war,  was  intended  to  split  like  a  di- 
viding wedge  the  patriots  of  Vermont,  New  Hampshire  and 
Massachusetts  from  their  brethren  in  the  central  and  southern 
colonies.  It  was  intended  to  deprive  them  of  mutual  assistance 
and  advice,  and  cut  oflF  all  communication  .with  each  other.  It 
was  intended  to  effect  a  junction  with  the  forces  of  Sir  Henry 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


41 


Clinton  at  Albany,  and  form  an  army  which  might  move  with 
irresistible  eflFeet  upon  the  New  England  provinces  which  had  of- 
fered the  first  opposition  to  the  British  crown  and  had  evinced 
a  stern  determination  to  maintain  to  the  bitter  end  the  bold  and 
noble  principles  enunciated  in  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

This  army,  full  of  confidence  in  its  ability  to  overcome  every 
obstacle,  full  of  contempt  for  the  undisciplined  militia  that  the 
colonies  had  sent  to  the  field,  felt  as  it  crossed  the  Hudson,  that 
the  importan*^^  mission  with  which  it  had  been  intrusted  was 
well  nigh  accomplished,  and  vainly  deemed  its  own  prowess 
irresistible. 

"  Ah,"  said  the  proud  Burgoyne,  "  Britons  never  retreat," 
and  after  the  passage  of  the  army,  he  caused  the  bridge  of 
boats  to  be  broken  up  behind  him.  "  Britons  never  retreat,  and 
I  shall  eat  ray  Christmas  dinner  in  Albany,"  said  the  exultant 
general,  as  he  reviewed  the  splendid  columns  of  the  Brunswick 
grenadiers  and  British  light  infantry.  And  as  he  marched  on 
he  dreamed  that  Albanj'^  was  already  a  captured  city  ;  that  the 
rebellious  provinces  had  been  subdued,  and  that  he  had  received 
from  a  grateful  sovereign  the  reward  he  so  much  coveted. 

But  this  splendid  army,  led  by  officers  of  conspicuous  courage 
and  experience,  was  destined  to  meet  a  foe  inspired  by  a  feeling 
loftier  than  the  mere  love  of  victory  and  a  determination  deeper 
than  the  mere  desire  for  renown. 

It  was  in  defense  of  their  homes,  in  defense  of  their  liberties, 
in  defense  of  their  families  from  the  savage  allies  of  Burgoyne 
and  the  still  more  cruel  arts  of  domestic  traitors,  in  defense  of 
those  noble  principles  of  human  rights  and  human  liberty  that 
animated  the  signers  of  that  immortal  declaration  not  then  two 
years  old,  that  the  Americans  from  every  settlement,  from 
every  hillside,  from  every  valley,  from  the  log  hut  of  the  pioneer 
and  from  beautiful  mansions  like  Schuyler's,  flocked  to  the 
standard  of  Gates  to  aid  in  repelling  the  invader. 

It  is  not  my  province  to  detail  to  you  those  events  which 
have  become  doubly  familiar  to  you  all  in  this  centennial  year. 

You  know  what  happened  at  Beinis's  Heights,  and  of  those 
victories  the  glorious  fruits  were  gathered  and  this  spot  conse- 


42 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


crated  to  freedom  and  rendered  immortal  by  the  complete  sur- 
render of  the  invading  army  a  hundred  years  ago  to-day. 

Our  elevated  social  and  political  condition  is  the  manifest  re- 
sult of  that  conquest  and  I  do  not  think  it  is  mere  national 
pride  that  induces  us  to  claim  that  among  the  many  moment- 
ous contests  of  the  world's  history  none  were  productive  of 
grander  results  or  greater  changes  in  nations  and  empires  than 
the  campaign  that  closed  here  a  hundred  years  ago.  England 
and  France  were  powerful  nations  then,  and  had  been  hundreds 
of  years.  Their  histories  stretch  back  through  centuries  of 
growth,  of  progress,  of  varying  prosperity  and  power,  and  of 
all  the  powerful  nations  that  existed  a  century  ago,  they  alone 
have  maintained  their  leading  position. 

The  deep  importance  of  that  event  of  which  this  is  the  anni- 
versary, will  more  plainly  appear  when  we  remember  that  the 
struggling  infant  which  was  on  that  day  baptized  down  by  the 
banks  of  this  our  national  Jordan,  is  to-day  the  acknowledged 
equal  in  arts,  in  power  and  civilization  of  those  ancient  empires. 

My  friends,  fifty  years  ago  to-day  a  smaller  company  than 
that  assembled  here  was  gathered  down  on  the  plain  by  the 
river  where  the  ruins  of  Fort  Hardy  were  then  plainly  discern- 
ible, and  where  the  army  of  Burgoyne  laid  down  their  arms,  to 
celebrate  as  we  are  celebrating  here  to- day  the  ame  glorious 
event.  And  among  the  company  which  was  gathered  then, 
there  were  white-haired  men  who  had  fought  under  General 
Gates  —  men  who  had,  from  the  heights  beyond  the  river, 
watched  the  moving  columns  of  Burgoyne  —  who  had  seen 
Morgan  at  the  head  of  his  riflemen,  and  Lincoln  at  the  head  of 
his  brigade  —  who  had  known  and  loved  the  noble  Schuyler, 
who  once  owned  the  broad  fields  where  yon  now  stand  —  who  had 
lain  in  the  entrenchments  which  ran  along  where  yonder  corner 
stone  has  been  laid  ;  and  men  who  had  modestly  stood  in  line 
while  the  captured  Britissh  army  marched  by  after  the  sur- 
render. 

They  were  gathered  to  rejoice  in  the  success  of  the  struggle 
in  which  ihey  bore  a  part ;  to  rejoice  in  the  splendid  sunshine 
of  national  prosperity  which  had  followed  the  termination  of 


THE  Surrender  of  Burqoyne. 


43 


that  struggle,  and  to  receive  the  grateful  thanks  of  the  genera- 
tion which  had  sprung  up  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  their  labors. 

Fifty  years  have  gone  since  then  and  all  of  that  little  band 
have  passed  away.  Not  a  soldier  is  left  who  stood  in  the  ranks 
on  those  memorable  days,  not  a  living  witness  remains  of  those 
interesting  scenes.  . 

Time  rolls  his  ceaseless  course.    The  race  of  yore 

Who  danced  our  infancy  upon  their  knee 
And  told  our  marvelling  boyhood  legends  store 

Of  their  strange  ventures  happ'd  on  laud  and  sea, 
How  are  they  blotted  from  the  things  that  be  I 

So  completely  has  that  generation  passed  away  that  I  believe 
there  is  here  to-day  but  one  man  who  can  remember  to  have 
seen  and  conversed  with  Philip  Schuyler.  He  is  with  us  as  a 
connecting  link  between  the  present  and  the  past. 

The  services  of  to-day  give  promise  that  soon  a  monument, 
too  long  delayed,  shall  rise  from  yonder  foundation  bearing 
suitable  inscriptions  to  the  worth  and  valor  of  those  heroes. 

But  of  those  men  there  remains  an  unwritten  memorial  in 
the  heart  of  every  true  American.  Theirs  is  the  renown  that 
never  grows  old,  but  shall  be  everlastingly  recorded  with  each 
returning  anniversary  of  this  glorious  day. 

It  will  be  our  privilege  to-day  to  listen  to  the  fascinating 
story  of  the  events  to  which  I  have  barely  alluded,  from  the 
lips  of  eloquent  gentlemen  who  are  here  to  address  you. 

From  the  enjoyment  of  their  eloquence  I  will  no  longer  de- 
tain you,  but  join  with  you  in  listeajng  with  never  flagging  in- 
terest to  the  recital  of  those  stirring  events. 

ADDRESS  OF  HON.  HORATIO  SEYMOUR. 

One  hundred  years  ago,  on  this  spot,  American  Independence 
was  made  a  great  fact  in  the  liistory  of  nations.  Until  the  sur- 
render of  the  British  army  under  Burgoyne,  the  Declaration  of 
Independence  was  but  a  declaration.  It  was  a  patriotic  purpose 
asserted  in  bold  words  by  brave  men,  who  pledged  for  its  main- 
tenance their  lives,  their  fortunes  and  their  sacred  honor.  But 
here  it  was  made  a  fact,  by  virtue  of  armed  force.  It  had  been 
regarded  by  the  world  merely  as  an  act  of  defiance,  but  it  was 
now  seen  that  it  contained  the  germs  of  a  government,  which 


44 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


i     ! 


the  event  we  celebrate  made  one  of  the  powers  of  the  earth. 
Here  rebellion  was  made  revolution.  Upon  this  ground,  that 
which  had  in  the  eye  of  the  law  been  treason,  became  triumphant 
patriotism. 

At  the  break  of  day  one  hundred  years  ago,  in  the  judgment 
of  the  world,  our  fathers  were  rebels  against  established  autho- 
rity. When  the  echoes  of  the  evening  gun  died  away  along 
this  valley,  they  were  patriots  who  had  rescued  their  country 
from  wrong  and  outrage.  Until  the  surrender  of  the  British 
army  in  this  valley,  no  nation  would  recognize  the  agents  of  the 
continental  congress.  All  intercourse  with  them  was  in  stealthy 
ways.  But  they  were  met  with  open  congratulations  when  the 
monarchs  of  Europe  learned  that  the  royal  standards  of  Britain 
had  been  lowered  to  our  flag.  We  had  passed  through  the  bap- 
tism of  blood,  and  had  gained  a  name  among  the  nations  of  the 
earth. 

The  value  of  this  surrender  was  increased  by  the  boastful  and 
dramatic  display  which  had  been  made  of  British  power.  It 
had  arrayed  its  disciplined  armies  ;  it  had  sent  its  fleets  ;  it  had 
called  forth  its  savage  allies,  all  of  which  were  to  move  upon 
grand  converging  lines,  not  only  to  crush  out  the  patriotic 
forces,  but  to  impress  Europe  with  its  strength,  and  to  check 
any  alliances  with  the  American  government.  It  made  them 
witnesses  of  its  defeat  when  it  thought  to  make  them  the  judges 
of  its  triumph.  The  monarchs  of  Europe  who  watched  the 
progress  of  the  doubtful  struggle,  who  were  uncertain  if  it  was 
more  than  a  popular  disturbance,  now  saw  the  action  in  its  full 
proportions,  and  felt  that  a  new  power  had  sprung  into  exist- 
ence —  a  new  element  had  entered  into  the  diplomacy  of  the 
world. 

The  interests  excited  in  our  minds  by  this  occasion,  arc  not 
limited  to  a  battle  fought,  or  an  army  captured  ;  they  reach 
even  beyond  tlie  fact  that  it  was  a  turning  point  of  the  revolu- 
tionary struggle.  We.  are  led  to  a  consideration  of  a  chain  of 
events  and  of  enduring  aspects  of  nature,  which  .have  shaped 
our  civilization  in  the  past,  and  which  now  and  throughout  the 
future,  will  influence  the  fortunes  of  our  country.  Burgoyne 
/"id  not  merely  surrender  here  an  army,  he  surrendered  the  con- 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


45 


trol  of  a  continent.  Never  in  the  world's  history,  was  there  a 
transfer  of  a  territory  so  vast,  and  of  influences  so  far  reaching, 
as  that  made  a  century  ago  where  we  now  stand. 

We  meet  to-day  to  celebrate  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne,  by 
appropriate  ceremonies,  and  to  lay  the  corner  stone  of  a  mojiu- 
nient  which  will  commemorate  not  only  that  event,  but  every 
fact  which  led  to  that  result.  The  reproach  rests  upon  the 
United  States,  that  while  they  stand  in  the  front  ranks  of  the 
powers  of  the  earth,  by  virtue  of  their  numbers,  their  vast  do- 
mains and  their  progress  in  wealth  and  in  arts,  they  give  no 
proof  to  the  eyes  of  the  world  that  they  honor  their  fathers  or 
those  whose  sacrifices  laid  the  foundations  of  their  prosperity 
and  greatness.  We  hope,  that  a  suitable  structure  here  will  tell 
all  who  look  upon  it  that  this  was  the  scene  of  an  occurrence  un- 
surpassed in  importance  in  military  annals.  And  it  will  also 
show  that  a  hundred  years  have  not  dimmed  its  lustre  in  our 
eyes,  but  that  the  light  shed  upon  its  significance  by  the  lapse 
of  time,  has  made  deeper  and  stronger  our  gratitude  to  those 
who  here  served  their  country  so  well,  and  by  their  sacrifices 
and  sufferings,  achieved  its  independence  and  secured  the 
liberties,  the  prosperity  and  greatness  of  the  American  people. 

All  that  throws  lig'it  upon  the  scope  and  policy  of  the  de- 
signs of  the  British  government  are,  on  this  day,  proper  topics 
for  consideration.  When  we  trace  out  the  relationships  which 
these  designs  bore  to  preceding  occurrences  ;  and  when  we  fol- 
low down  their  bearing  upon  the  present  and  future  of  our 
country,  we  shall  see  that  a  suitable  monument  here  will  recall 
to  all  thoughtful  minds  the  varied  history  of  our  country  during 
tlie  past  two  centuries.  It  will  do  more.  For  the  enduring 
causes  which  have  shaped  the  past,  also  throw  light  upon  the 
future  of  our  government,  our  civilization  and  our  power. 

The  occurrences  which  led  to  the  surrender  of  the  British 
army,  have  been  appropriately  celebrated.  Tlie  great  gather- 
ings of  our  people  at  Oriskany,  at  Bennington  and  at  Bemis's 
Heights,  show  how  this  centennial  of  what  has  been  well  termed 
the  year  of  battles,  revives  in  the  minds  of  the  American  peo- 
ple an  interest  in  the  history  of  the  Revolution.    These  celebra- 

7 


46 


Centenmal  Celebration  of 


tions  have  tended  to  make  our  people  wiser  and  better.  Jt  is 
to  be  hoped  that  they  will  bd  held  on  every  b!;ttle  field  in  our 
country.  They  will  not  only  restore  the  patriot. sm  of  our  people 
but  they  will  teach  us  the  virtues  of  courage  and  patient  endur- 
ance. This  is  a  time  of  financial  distress  and  of  business  dis- 
order, and  we  have  lost  somewhat  of  our  faith  with  regard  to 
the  future,  and  we  speak  in  complaining  tones  of  the  evils  of 
our  day.  But  when  we  read  again  the  history  of  the  war  for 
our  independence  ;  when  we  hear  the  story  of  the  sufferings  of 
all  classes  of  our  citizens  ;  when  we  are  reminded  that  our  sol- 
diers endured  from  want,  and  nakedness,  and  hunger,  as  no 
pauper,  no  criminal  suffers  now  ;  when  we  think  that  the  fears 
which  agitated  their  minds  were  not  those  which  merely  con- 
cerned the  pride  of  success,  the  mortification  of  failure,  or 
the  loss  of  some  accustomed  comfort,  but  they  were  the  dread 
that  the  march  of  hostile  armies  might  drive  their  families  from 
their  homes,  might  apply  the  torch  to  their  dwellings,  or  worse 
than  this,  expose  their  wives  and  children  to  the  tomahawks 
and  scalping  knives  of  merciless  savages,  we  blush  at  our  com- 
plaints. In  view  of  their  dangers  and  sufferings,  how  light 
appear  the  evils  of  our  day. 

But  there  is  something  more  than  all  this  to  be  gained  by 
these  celebrations.  Before  the  Revolution  the  people  of  the 
several  colonies  iMd  '>ut  little  int  rcourse.  They  were  estranged 
from  each  other  by  distance,  by  sectional  prejudices,  and  by 
differences  of  lineage  and  religious  creeds.  The  British  go- 
vernment relied  upon  these  prejudices  and  estrangements  to 
prevent  a  cordial  cooperation  among  the  colonists.  But  when 
the  war  began,  when  the  men  of  Virginia  hastened  to  Massa- 
chusetts to  rescue  Boston  from  the  hands  of  the  enemy  and  to 
drive  them  from  New  England  ;  when  the  men  of  the  east  and 
south  battled  side  by  side  with  those  from  the  middle  states, 
apd  stood  upon  this  spot  as  brothers  to  receive  with  a  common 
pride  and  joy  the  standards  of  a  conquered  foe  ;  when  Green 
and  Lincoln  went  to  the  relief  of  the  southern  colonies  all  pre- 
judice not  only  died  away,  but  more  than  fraternal  love  ani- 
mated every  patriot  heart  from  the  bleak  northernmost  forests 


THE    SUIIHKNDER    OF    BURGOYNE. 


47 


of  JiTew  England  to  the  milder  airs  ov  Georgia.  And  now  that 
a  hundred  years  have  passed,  and  our  country  has  become  great 
beyond  the  wildest  dreams  of  our  fataers,  will  not  the  story  of 
their  sufferings  revive  in  the  breast  of  all  the  love  of  our  coun- 
try, of  our  whole  country  and  all  who  live  within  its  boundaries? 
Men  of  the  east  and  men  of  the  south,  or  you  who  can  trace 
your  lineage  back  to  those  who  served  their  country  a  century 
ago  ujion  the  soil  of  New  York,  wo  do  not  welcome  you  here 
;>s  guests  ;  you  stand  here  of  right,  by  virtue  of  a  heritage  from 
cur  fathers,  who  on  this  ground  were  common  actors  in  the 
crowning  event  of  the  war  waged  for  the  liberties,  the  glory,  and 
the  prosperity  of  all  sections  of  our  great  country. 

At  this  celebration  of  the  ^rand  conclusion  of  the  campaign 
of  Burgoyne,  we  have  a  broader  field  of  discussion  than  that  of 
a  battle,  however  stirring  it  may  have  been.  The  occasion  calls 
not  only  for  praise  of  heroic  courage,  not  only  for  a  deep  in- 
terest in  every  statement  showing  the  influence  of  its  victories 
over  the  judgment  of  the  world  as  to  the  strength  of  cur  cause, 
but  also  for  its  importance  as  one  of  the  links  in  the  chain  of 
events  reaching  back  more  than  two  centuries,  and  which  will 
continue  to  stretch  down  into  the  future  far  beyond  the  period 
when  human  thought  or  conclusions  can  be  of  value. 


INFLUENCE    OF   THE     TOPOGRAPHY  OF  OUR    COUNTRY. 

The  speaker  and  others  who  have  addressed  the  public  with 
regard  to  American  history,  have  made  frequent  references  to 
the  extent  that  it  has  been  shaped  by  the  topograi)hy  of  this 
part  of  our  country.  On  this  occasion  it  forces  itself  upon  our 
attention,  and  've  must  again  outline  its  relationship  to  events. 
We  cannot,  if  we  would,  separate  the  design  of  the  cami)aign 
of  Burgoyne,  nor  the  military  aspects  of  its  progress,  from  the 
character  of  the  valleys  through  which  its  forces  were  moved, 
nor  from  the  commanding  positions  at  which  it  was  aimed.  Our 
mountains  and  rivers  have  been  the  causes  of  co  many  of  the 
great  facts  in  the  history  of  this  continent  ;  they  are  so  closely 
identified  with  its  political  and  social  affairs,  that  they  seem  to 
become  sentient  actors  in  its  events.     We  are  compelled  to 


i    1 


I 


48 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


speak  of  their  bearings  upon  the  course  of  war,  of  comn\^rce 
and  of  civilization,  to  make  a  clear  statement  of  the  scope  and 
significance  of  the  events  we  celebrate.  This  cannot  be  given 
if  we  speak  only  of  the  things  which  relate  to  the  British  inva- 
sion of  1777,  and  of  its  signal  defeat. 

Those  who  would  learn  tlie  causes  which  have  shaped  the 
course  of  military  and  political  affairs  on  this  continent,  which 
have  given  victory  in  war  and  prosperity  in  peace,  must  spread 
out  before  them  the  map  of  our  country.  Having  traced  its 
grand  system  of  mountains,  rivers  and  lakes,  they  will  be  struck 
with  the  fact  that  for  a  thousand  miles  the  AUeghanies  make 
long  ranges  of  barriers  between  the  Atlantic  and  the  great 
plains  of  the  interior.  About  mid-way  of  their  lengths  these 
lofty  mountains  are  cut  down  to  their  bases  by  the  gorge  of  the 
Hudson,  through  which  the  tides  of  the  ocean  pour  their  floods 
in  triumph.  Towering  cliffs  overshadow  the  deep  waters  of 
the  river.  Had  but  a  single  spur  of  those  rocky  buttresses 
which  crowd  upon  either  shore  been  thrown  across  the  narrow 
chasm,  had  but  one  of  the  beetling  cliffs  which  stand  upon  its 
brink  been  pushed  but  a  few  feet  across  its  course,  the  currents 
of  events  would  have  been  changed  as  completely  as  the  cur- 
rents of  the  floods.  The  nations  who  controlled  the  outlets  of 
the  Mississippi  and  the  St.  Lawrence  would  have  been  the  mas- 
ters of  this  continent.  No  one  who  has  marked  the  physical 
character  of  our  country,  and  who  has  studied  its  history,  can 
pass  through  the  highlands  of  the  Hudson  and  note  how  at 
every  turn  of  its  stream  the  cliffs  threaten  to  close  its  course, 
without  feeling  that  the  power  which  made  the  mountain  chains 
to  stop  abruptly  at  its  brink,  was  higher  than  blind  chance  — 
something  more  than  the  wild,  unreasoning  action  of  convulsed 
nature. 

The  valley  of  the  Hudson  does  not  end  when  it  has  led  the 
ocean  tides  through  the  mountain  passes.  It  stretches  its 
channel  northward  to  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  holds  within  its 
deep  basin  not  only  the  Hudson  flowing  south,  but  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  which  empties  its  waters  into  the  ocean  far  north  through 
the  gulf  of  St.  Lawrence.     It  thus  not  only  connects  the  har- 


THE  Surrender  of  Burooyne. 


49 


bor  of  New  York  with  the  basins  of  the  great  lakes,  but  by  the 
Mdhawk  branch  of  the  Hudson  it  has  also  channeled  out  an  itiier 
lovel  passage,  stretching  westward  to  the  plains  watered  by  the 
contluents  of  the  Mississippi.  These  valleys  of  the  Hudson  and 
Mohawk  have  been  the  pathways  of  armies  in  war  and  the 
routes  of  commerce  in  peace.  They  have  been  the  highways 
through  which  the  nations  of  Europe  and  the  people  of  the  At- 
lantic coast  have  poured  their  host  of  emigrants  into  the  vast 
regions  which  stretch  out  from  the  Alleghanies  to  the  base  of 
the  Rocky  mountains.  But  nature  did  not  stop  in  her  work 
when  she  gave  to  the  regions  in  which  we  meet  advantages  of 
deep  valleys,  making  the  easy  communication  from  the  sea  coast 
to  the  interior  of  our  country.  From  the  outward  slopes,  of 
liighlands  which  guard  these  channels  of  intercourse,  the  waters 
How  by  diverging  valleys  into  almost  every  jiart  of  our  Union. 
T.'iese  highlands  make,  in  many  ways,  the  most  remarkable 
watersheds  to  be  found  on  the  face  of  the  earth.  There  is  not 
elsewhere  an  instance  where  interlocking  sources  of  rivers  pur- 
sue courses  diverging  in  so  many  directions,  forming  so  many 
extending  valleys,  and  at  length  find  their  outlets  into  the  ocean 
at  points  so  distant  from  each  other,  and  from  the  headwaters 
on  the  ground  where  they  had  their  common  origin.  For  these 
reasons  the  valleys  of  the  Hudson  and  the  Mohawk,  and  the 
mountain  strongholds  which  command  them,  have  ever  been 
the  great  central  points  of  control  in  the.  wars  of  both  civilized 
and  savage  races.  Once  when  in  company  with  General  Scott, 
we  overlooked  from  an  elevated  point  the  ground  on  which  we 
stand  and  the  confluence  of  these  rivers,  and  the  range  of  high- 
land? which  marked  their  courses,  the  old  warrior  with  a  kind- 
ing  eye,  stretched  out  his  arm  and  said  :  "  Remember  this  has 
b^en  the  great  strategic  pv^int  in  all  the  wars  waged  for  the  con- 
tiol  of  this  continent." 

The  mountains  and  valleys  of  New  York  not  only  make 
channels  for  commerce  in  pea«  3,  but  a  grand  system  for  defence 
and  attack  in  war.  They  are  nature's  commanding  works, 
which  dvv^arf  by  comparison  all  human  monuments  of  engineer- 
ing skill  into  insignificance.     Their  influence  is   most   clearly 


50 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


sliovvn  by  the  power  they  gave  to  the  Indian  tribes  wlio  held 
them  when  Europeans  first  visited  our  continent.  Tlie  rivers 
which  Howed  in  all  directions  from  tlieir  vantage  ground  on  the 
highlands,  first  taught  the  Iroquois  the  advantages  of  united 
action,  and  led  to  the  formation  of  their  confederacy.  Pouring 
their  condiined  forces  at  different  times  into  the  valley  of  the 
Delaware,  or  of  the  Susquehannali,  or  the  Alleghany,  they  were 
able  to  subdue  in  detail  the  divided  tribes  living  upon  these 
streams.  Thus  gaining  courage  and  skill  by  constant  victories, 
they  boldly  pushed  their  conquest  into  remote  sections  of  our 
country.  The  liritish  ordnance  mai)s  published  during  the  col- 
onial period,  make  the  boundaries  of  their  control  extend  from 
the  coast  line  of  the  Atlantic  to  the  INIississippi  river  and  from  the 
great  lakes  to  the  centre  of  the  present  state  of  North  Carolina. 
There  is  no  instance  in  history  where  a  region  so  vast  has  been 
conquered  by  numbers  so  small.  Theii  alliance  with  the  British 
government  was  one  of  the  grounds  on  which  the  latter  con- 
tested the  claims  of  the  French  to  the  interior  of  our  continent, 
by  virtue  of  its  discoveries  on  the  St.  Lawrence  and  Mississippi 
Thiis  the  victories  gained  by  the  Iroquois,  through  their  geo- 
graphical position,  had  a  great  influence  in  deciding  the  ques- 
tion, whether  the  civilization  of  North  America  should  be  French 
or  English  in  its  aspects,  laws  and  customs. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact,  that  with  a  view  of  overcoming  the 
British  power  on  this  continent,  nearly  a  century  before  the 
campaign  of  Burgoyne,  its  plan  was  forecast  by  FrontenaC; 
the  ablest  of  the  French  colonial  commanders.  He  proposed 
to  move  against  the  colony  of  New  York  by  the  same  routes 
followed  by  the  British  forces  in  1777.  He  was  to  lead  his 
army  through  the  valley  of  Lake  Champlain  and  Upper  Hudson 
to  Albany.  At  that  point  he  designed  to  seize  vessels  to  pass 
down  the  river,  and  tliere  to  act  with  the  French  ships  of  war, 
which  were  to  meet  him  in  the  harbor  of  New  York.  Nothing 
can  show  more  clearly  the  strategic  importance  of  the  valley 
in  which  we  meet,  than  the  fact  that  he  urged  this  movement 
for  the  same  reasons  which  led  the  British  king  to  adopt  it 
aftor  the  lapse  of  so  many  years.     Frontenacsaw  that,  by  gain- 


THE   SUKUENDEK   OF   BUKQOYNE. 


61 


lug  control  of  the  course  aiul  outlet  of  the  Iliulson,  the  French 
woiilil  conuniuid  the  gateway  into  the  ii>terior,  that  they  would 
divide  the  British  colouieH,  and  New  Eugluud  thus  cut  oflF, 
woidd,  ill  the  end,  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  French.  He  also 
urged  that  in  this  way  the  Iroquois  .would  be  detached  from 
tlie  English  alliance. 

The  iiiHuence  of  the  valleys  of  our  country  has  not  been  lost 
ill  the  wars  of  our  day.  "  We  should  have  won  our  cause," 
s.iid  Governor  Wise,  a  distinguished  leader  of  the  Southern  con- 
federacy, "had  not  God  made  the  rivers  which  spring  from  the 
highlands  of  New  York,  to  flow  from  the  north  to  the  south, 
thus  making  by  their  valley  pathways  for  armies  into  all  parts 
of  our  territories.  Had  their  courses  been  in  other  directions, 
their  streams  would  have  made  barriers  against  Northern  armies 
instead  of  giving  avenues  by  which  they  could  assail  us."  Nor 
have  they  been  less  controlling  in  peace  than  in  war.  They 
nuike  the  great  channels  of  commerce  between  the  east  and  the 
west,  and  enable  us  to  draw  to  the  seaboard  the  abundant  har- 
vest of  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  and  to  send  them  to  the  far 
off  markets  of  Europe.  Numerous  and  varied  as  have  been  the 
movement  of  armies  along  these  watercourses,  even  they  sink 
into  insignificai'.oe  compared  with  the  vast  multitudes  which 
have  poared  through  them  from  Euroi)e  and  the  Atlantic  coast 
to  fill  the  west  with  civilized  states.  Through  them  we  draw 
armies  of  immigrants,  prisoners  of  peace  captured  from  Europe 
by  the  strength  of  the  inducements  held  out  to  them  by  the 
material  and  political  advantages  of  our  country. 

We  lire  in  ourday  the  witnesses  of  a  greater  movement  of  the 
human  race,  both  as  to  numbers  and  influence  upon  civilization, 
than  is  recorded  in  past  history.  It  can  tell  of  no  such  con- 
tinued and  great  transfer  of  poi)ulation  from  one  continent  to 
another.  Unlike  other  invasions,  it  does  not  bring  war  and  ra- 
pine, but  it  bears  peaceful  arts  and  civilization  into  vast  regions 
heretofore  occupied  by  scanty  tribes  of  warring  savages.  Fa- 
miliar with  this  great  movement,  we  are  prone  to  look  upon  it 
with  some  degree  of  indifference.  But  through  the  centuries 
to  come  it  will  be  regarded  as  one  of  the  greatest  events  in  the 
history  of  mankind. 


52 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


I  have  not  dwelt  upon  these  hills  and  valleys  merely  because 
they  have  been  the  scenes  of  the  most  dramatic  and  important 
events  in  American  annals,  but  because  they  have  given  birth 
to  these  events.  I  have  spoken  of  them,  not  because  they  have 
been  associated  with  history,  but  because  they  have  made  his- 
tory. They  gave  to  the  Iroquois  their  power  ;  they  directed 
the  course  and  determined  the  result  of  the  war  between  France 
and  Britain  for  domination  on  this  continent.  Neither  the  sur- 
render of  the  British  army  on  these  grounds,  the  causes  which 
preceded  nor  the  consequences  which  flowed  from  it,  can  be 
appreciated  until  the  enduring  influences  of  the  great  features 
of  our  country  are  clearly  brought  into  view.  Elsewhere  rivers 
and  mountains  mark.the  lines  which  make  enemies  of  mankind. 
Here  they  form  the  avenues  which  bind  us  together  by  inter- 
course. They  gi's  not  merely  to  a  country,  but  almost  to  our 
whole  continent,  a  common  language,  customs  and  civilization. 
The  world  has  never  before  seen  a  social  structure  with  founda- 
tions so  broad.  Time  may  make  many  changes,  but  there  will 
ever  be  a  unity  in  the  population  of  North  America,  a  commu- 
nity of  interests  upon  a  grander  scale  than  has  yet  been  seen 
among  mankind.  He  who  studies  the  map  of  our  continent  and 
doubts  this,  does  not  merely  lack  political  faith,  but  is  guilty  of 
impiety  when  he  closes  his  eyes  to  the  truths  which  God  has 
written  by  streams  and  valleys,  upon  the  face  of  this  continent. 

It  was  the  design  ■■',.  the  British  government  in  the  campaign 
of  1777  to  capture  the  center  and  stronghold  of  this  command- 
ing system  of  mountains  and  valleys.  It  aimed  at  its  very 
heart  —  the  confluence  of  the  Mohawk  and  Hudson.  The 
flert .,  the  armies,  and  tiie  savage  allies  of  Britain  were  to  fol- 
low their  converging  lines  to  Albany.  Its  position  had  made 
tlijvt  city  the  place  where  the  governors  and  agents  of  the 
colonies  had  l)een  used  to  meet  with  reference  to  their  com- 
mon interest.  Here  the  agents  of  the  New  P^ngland  an<l 
southern  provinces  came  to  consult  with  the  chiefs  of  tlu' 
Iroquois,  and  to  gain  their  alliance  in  their  wars  with  tho 
savages  of  the  west,  who  threatened  the  European  settle- 
ments.    In  the  expressive  language  of  the  Indians,  Albany  was 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgotne. 


53 


called  the  "  Ancient  Place  of  Treaty."  It  was  also  the  point  at 
which  the  military  expeditions  against  the  French  at  the  north 
and  west  were  organized.  Even  before  Benjamin  Franklin 
brought  forward  his  plan  at  Albany  for  colonial  union,  the  idea 
of  such  alliance  was  constantly  suggested  by  the  necessity  of 
common  action  in  attack  or  defence  against  savage  or  civilized 
enemies. 

There  was  much  to  justify  the  boastful  confidence  of  the 
British  that  they  could  thus  crush  out  American  resistance. 
To  feel  the  full  force  of  this  threatened  blow,  we  must  forget 
for  a  time  our  present  power  ;  we  must  see  with  the  eyes  of 
our  fathers,  and  look  at  things  as  they  stood  a  century  ago. 
Tlie  care  with  which  the  army  of  Burgoyrie  was  organized,  its 
officers  and  men  selected,  and  its  material  for  an  advance  and 
attack  provided,  has  been  made  familiar  to  our  people  by  this 
year's  addresses.  The  progress  of  the  British  navy  up  the  Hud- 
son to  a  point  west  of  the  Alleghany  range,  its  seizure  in  its 
course  of  Stony  Point  and  Fort  Clinton,  its  success  in  forcing  a 
passage  through  the  highlands  at  West  Point,  the  capture  and 
burning  of  Kingston,  where  the  British  admiral  awaited  commu- 
nication from  Burgoyne,  have  all  been  clearly  narrated  on  the 
pages  of  history.  Had  the  commander  of  the  expedition  gone 
to  Albany  he  might  have  saved  the  army  of  Burgoyne.  Gene- 
ral Gates  saw  if  this  had  been  done  he  would  have  been  forced 
to  retreat  into  New  England.  But  it  was  not  known  at  the 
time  how  grant  a  peril  was  averted  by  an  act  of  negligence  in 
the  British  war  dei)artment.  It  appears  that  orders  were  pre- 
pared, but  not  sent  to  General  Howe,  directing  him  to  cooperate 
with  Burgoyne  with  all  his  forces.  If  this  had  been  done,  there 
is  reason  to  fear  the  result  would  have  been  fatal  to  our  cause. 
This  is  one  of  those  strange  occurrences  recognized  in  the  lives 
ol"  individuals  as  well  as  in  the  affairs  of  nations,  showing  that 
there  is  an  over-ruling  Providence  that  watches  over  both. 

The  importance  of  the  movement  from  the  west  by  St. 
Leger  and  his  Indian  allies  is  not  generally  understood  by  our 
people.  It  was  made  with  confidence  of  success :  and  when  its 
commander  wrote  to  Burgoyne  that  he  would  be  able  to  sweep 

8 


54 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


down  the  valley  of  the  Mohawk  and  place  himself  in  the  rear 
of  the  American  army,  there  was  much  to  justify  that  confi- 
dence. The  address  of  Mr.  Roberts  and  others,  at  the  Oriskany 
celebration,  are  valuable  contributions  to  the  history  of  St. 
Leger's  invasion.  The  Palatines  who  inhabited  the  valley  of 
the  Mohawk  were,  by  their  position,  language  and  usages, 
severed  from  the  body  of  the  American  colonies.  The  wise 
policy  of  Sir  William  Johnson  had  done  much  to  attach  them 
to  the  British  crown.  To  enable  them  to  worship  God  in  ac- 
cordance with  their  own  creed  and  in  the  faith  of  that  part  of 
Germany  from  which  they  came,  aid  was  given  to  them  for 
the  erection  of  churches  for  their  use.  Many  of  these  were 
strong  stone  churches,  which  were  afterwards  fortified  and  used 
as  places  of  refuge  and  defence  during  the  Revolution  by  the 
families  of  the  settlers  against  the  ruthless  warfare  of  savages. 
Most  of  these  churches  still  stand,  monuments  of  the  past,  and 
are  now  used  i'or  the  sacred  purposes  for  which  they  were  built. 
The  heirs  and  representatives  of  Sir  William  were  with  the 
army  of  St.  Leger,  and  assured  him  that  the  dwellers  upon  the 
Mohawk  would  respond  to  their  appeals,  and  rise  in  arms  to 
uphold  the  cause  of  the  crown.  No  stronger  proof  can  be  given 
that  the  love  of  liberty  and  of  democratic  principles  were  en- 
gendered and  born  upon  our  soil  and  not  imported  in  some 
latent  form  in  the  ships  which  brought  over  the  first  colonists, 
than  the  fact  that  these  settlers  from  the  Palatinates  of  Ger- 
many, who  had  not  known  of  republican  usages  in  their  native 
land,  and  who  could  not,  from  their  position  and  their  language, 
receive  impressions  from  the  other  colonists,  had  yet,  amidst  the 
trials  and  perils  of  border  life  and  warfare,  gained  the  same 
political  convictions  which  animated  the  colonists  in  all  parts 
of  our  country.  It  was  the  most  remarkable  fact  of  the  revo- 
lutionary war,  and  of  the  formation  of  state  and  general  go- 
vernments, that,  although  the  colonists  were  of  different  lineages 
and  languages,  living  under  different  climates  with  varied  pur- 
suits and  forms  of  labor,  cut  off  from  intercourse  by  distance, 
yet,  in  spite  of  all  these  obstacles  to  accord,  they  were  from  the 
outset  animated  by    common  views,   feelings   and  purposes. 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


55 


When  the  independence  was  gained,  they  were  able,  after  a  few 
weeks  ppent  in  consultation,  to  form  the  constitution  under 
which  we  have  lived  for  nearly  one  hundred  years.  There  can 
be  no  stronger  proof  of  the  fact  that  American  constitutions 
were  born  and  shaped  by  American  necessities.  This  fact 
should  give  us  new  faith  in  he  lasting  nature  of  our  govern- 
ment. In  the  case  of  the  Palatines  of  the  Mohawk  this  truth 
shines  out  more  clearly  than  elsewhere.  Isolated  by  language, 
Uneage  and  position,  the  great  body  of  them  fought  for  the 
American  cause,  and  showed  a  sturdy  valor  from  the  outset. 
They  endured  more  of  suffering  and  danger  in  its  most  appall- 
ing form,  than  were  felt  elsewhere.  With  the  loss  of  their 
language  and  from  the  great  inflow  from  other  states  and  coun- 
tries into  Central  New  York,  many  of  the  incidents  and  tr^Jl- 
tions  of  the  valley  of  the  Mohawk  are  lost.  It  is  due  to  them 
from  the  whole  country  that,  as  far  as  possible,  its  history 
should  be  developed  and  made  familiar  to  our  people.  The 
most  telling  blow  to  the  cause  of  the  crown,  and  to  the  hopes 
of  St.  Leger,  was  that  the  mustering  of  the  men  under  Her- 
kimer, their  desperate  valor  in  the  fight  at  Oriskany  showed 
that  he  was  to  be  met  with  undying  hostility  where  he  had 
looked  for  friends  and  allies.  From  that  day  the  hope  which 
animated  him  when  he  promised  to  aid  Burgoyne  faded  away. 
The  defeat  of  St.  Leger  and  their  allies  was  given  by  Bur- 
goyne as  one  of  the  great  causes  of  his  failure  to  reach  Albany 
Wiiile  the  hostile  Indians  inflicted  great  evils  upon  the  Ameri 
can  settlements,  their  prestige  was  lessened  in  the  eyes  of  the 
world. 


INDIAN  ALLIES. 

The  importance  of  the  Indian  alliance  with  the  British  during 
the  Revolution,  has  been  undervalued  by  most  of  those  who 
Imvc  written  the  histories  of  the  Revolution.  We  look  upon 
Indian  wn  s  mere  savage  outbursts,  which  may  cause  much 
misery  and  suffering,  but  which  threaten  no  danger  to  govern- 
ments. We  are  apt  to  think  that  the  savages  were  merely 
used  to  divert  and  distract  the   American  forces.     But  such 


5G 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


was  not  the  import  of  their  alliance,  in  the  judgment  of  the 
contending  parties  or  of  the  nations  of  Europe,  who  watched 
with  interest  the  course  of  military  events  on  this  continent. 
We  must  bear  in  mind  the  estimation  in  which  the  Iroquois  were 
held  at  the  close  of  the  French  war.  They  had  done  much  to 
give  the  victory  to  the  English.  At  times,  the  hostility  of 
these  savage  confederates  would  have  been  fatal  to  the  British 
cause.  Their  position  made  them  conquerors  of  their  kindred 
races.  Victories  inspired  them  with  heroism.  Extended  con- 
quests had  taught  them  much  of  the  policy  of  government.  In 
the  councils  of  their  confederacy,  orators  and  statesmen  had 
been  formed.  They  extorted  from  their  French  enemies  expres- 
sions of  admiration  and  statements  of  virtues,  which  we  should  do 
well  to  imitate  in  our  own  day  and  in  our  own  councils.  Golden, 
who  was  familiar  with  their  polity,  states  that  the  authority  of 
their  rulers  consisted  wholly  of  the  estimation  in  which  they 
were  held  for  integrity  and  wisdom,  and  they  were  generally 
poorer  than  the  rest  of  the  people.  He  adds,  "  there  is  not  a 
man  of  the  Five  Nations  who  has  gained  his  office  otherwise  than 
by  merit;"  Their  enemies,  the  French,  testified  in  their  his- 
tories, that  while  they  were  the  fiercest  and  most  formidable 
people  in  America,  they  were  politic  and  judicious  in  the  man- 
'agement  of  their  affairs.  For  nearly  a  century  the  French  and 
English  struggled  to  gain  their  friendship  by  every  influence  of 
religion,  of  diplomacy  and  display  of  power.  Even  as  late  as 
1754,  George  Washington,  then  a  colonial  officer,  called  upon 
them  for  assistance  in  his  movements  against  the  French  on  the 
Ohio  river,  and  claimed  that  he  went  forth  to  fight  for  their 
rights,  because  the  French  were  occupying  territories  which 
belonged  to  the  Iroquois.  Only  twenty  years  before  the  re- 
volutionary war,  the  British  ministry  insisted  in  its  correspond- 
ence with  the  French  government,  that  the  Iroquois  were  the 
owners,  by  conquest,  of  the  Ohio  territory,  and  that  they  were 
the  subjects  of  the  British  crown.  This  was  the  claim  set  up 
against  the  French  rights  of  discovery.  It  is  a  remarkable  fact, 
that  the  French  did  not  deny  the  right  of  conquest  by  the 
Iroquois,  but  denied  that  they  were  the  subjects  of  Britain  in 


THE  Surrender  of  Burqoyne. 


67 


these  strong  words  :  "  Certain  it  is  that  no  Englishman  durst, 
without  running  the  risk  of  being  massacred,  tell  the  Iroquois 
that  they  are  the  subjects  of  England."  One  of  the  first  acts 
of  the  continental  congress  was  designed  to  secure  the  alliance 
of  the  Six  Nations.  In  this  they  were  unsuccessful,  except  as  to 
the  Oneidas.  The  cooperation  of  their  savage  allies  was  deemed 
of  the  utmost  importance  by  the  British. 

I  do  not  speak  of  the  action  at  Bennington  nor  of  the  battle 
of  Bemis's  Heights.  The  late  celebration  upon  the  grounds 
upon  which  they  took  place,  have  made  the  public  familiar  with 
all  their  aspects  and  results. 


INFLUENCE  OF  BURGOYNE's  SURRENDER. 

France  saw  that  upon  the  very  theat"'  of  war  where  Britain 
had  wrested  from  it  the  control  of  this  continent,  its  ancient 
enemy  had  been  beaten  by  the  new  power  which  was  springing 
into  existence.  To  the  French  government  this  victory  had  a 
significance  that  no  like  victory  could  have  had  upon  other  fields. 
It  knew  better  than  others  the  commanding  features  of  this 
region.  Its  missionaries  were  highly  educated  men,  who  marked 
with  care  the  character  of  our  mountains,  lakes  and  streams. 
Impelled  by  religious  zeal  and  devotion  to  the  interests  of  their 
native  land,  they  boldly  pushed  into  the  remote  portions  of  the 
continent  in  advance  of  commercial  enterprise  or  military  expe- 
ditions. Their  narratives  are  to  this  day  of  great  value  and 
interest.  The  surrender  of  Burgoyne  had  also  a  marked  effect 
upon  the  tone  and  policy  of  the  British  cabinet  ;  it  no  longer 
fought  for  conquest,  but  for  compromise.  Its  armies  were 
moved  with  a  view  of  saving  a  part  if  it  could  not  hold  all  of 
its  jurisdiction.  It  was  able  to  take  possession  of  the  principal 
cities,  but  it  could  not  find  elsewhere  positions,  like  that  aimed 
at  by  Burgoyne,  which  would  enable  it  to  sunder  and  paralyze 
the  patriot  forces.  It  exhausted  its  armies  in  campaigns  which 
produced  no  results,  even  when  successful  in  repulsing  our  forces 
or  in  occupying  the  points  at  which  they  were  directed.  Its 
commanders  were  animated  by  only  one  gleam  of  hope.  The 
proud  power  which  j\t  the  outset  called  upon  the  world  to  witness 


I 


68 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


its  strength  in  crushing  rebellion,  stooped  to  dealings  with  a 
traitor,  and  sought  to  gain  by  corruption  what  it  could  not  gain 
by  force.  The  treason  of  Arnold  excited  the  deepest  feelings, 
because  the  loss  of  West  Point,  the  key  of  the  Hudson,  would 
have  given  the  British  a  position  from  which  they  could  not 
have  been  dislodged  at  the  center  of  the  strongholds  of  defence 
and  the  commanding  basis  for  attack  of  the  Hudson  and  its 
guardian  mountains.  The  fact  that  the  loss  of  West  Point 
would  have  been  deemed  a  fatal  blow  to  the  American  cause 
places  the  strategic  importance  of  this  region  in  the  strongest 
light. 

The  surrender  of  Burgoyne  not  only  gave  new  hope  to  the 
patriots,  but  it  exerted  a  moral  influence  upon  our  soldiers.  The 
colonists  up  to  that  time  had  been  trained  in  the  belief  that 
British  soldiers  were  irresistible.  To  hold  them  superior  to  all 
others  in  arms  had  been  American  patriotis  n.  Through  the 
century  of  the  French  wars,  precedence  had  ah  ays  been  yielded 
to  the  officers  of  the  crown  ;  and  the  colonists  looked  mainly  to 
the  British  army  to  protect  their  homes  from  invasion.  Colonial 
papers  showed  an  extravagance  of  loyalty  which  is  frequently 
exhibited  in  the  outlying  and  exposed  settlements  of  all  nations. 
The  Revolution,  while  it  made  a  revulsion  of  feeling,  did  not  at 
the  outset  destroy  this  sense  of  the  superior  skill  and  power  of 
British  arms.  The  early  engagements  in  the  open  fields  had  not 
been  fortunate  for  the  patriot  cause.  The  armies  of  the  crown 
were  still  buoyed  up  by  that  sense  of  superiority,  which,  in  itself, 
is  an  element  in  martial  success.  Burgoyne  did  not  doubt  his 
ability  to  destroy  any  army  he  could  reach.  The  battle  of 
Bemis's  Heights  was  a  fair  and  open  contest  on  equal  terms. 
In  strategy,  in  steadiness,  in  valor,  the  continental  troops  proved 
themselves  in  all  ways  equal  to  the  picked  and  trained  men 
against  whom  they  fought. 

From  the  day  that  victory  was  won,  the  American  soldier 
felt  himself  to  be  the  equal  of  all  who  could  be  brought  against 
him,  and  he  knew  that  he  was  animated  by  higher  and  nobler 
purposes  than  those  which  moved  the  ranks  of  his  enemies.  The 
whole  spirit  of  the  contest  was  changed.     Our  armies  reaped  a 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


59 


double  triumph  on  this  iBeld.  There  was  much  in  the  contempt 
which  had  been  shown  by  their  enemies  of  their  qualities  as 
soldiers,  much  in  the  taunts  and  sneers  of  the  British  cabinet, 
much  in  the  pillage  and  destruction  which  ever  attend  the  march 
of  invading  armies,  to  excite  the  victors  to  exhibitions  of  triumph 
over  fallen  foes.  But  they  bore  themselves,  not  as  men  intoxi- 
cated by  successful  fortunes  in  war,  but  as  men  who  felt  it  was 
in  them  to  win  victories  there  or  elsewhere.  There  was  a  calm- 
ness in  the  hour  of  triumph,  which  more  than  even  courage  upon 
the  battlefield,  impressed  the  defeated  army  with  the  character 
of  those  of  whom  they  had  spoken  so  contemptuously.  The 
enemy  were  twice  conquered,  and  in  many  ways  the  last  victory 
over  them  was  most  keenly  felt.  The  moral  and  the  military 
advantages  of  the  surrender  of  the  British  array  was  marred  by 
no  act  which  lessened  the  dignity  of  the  conquerors.  And  he 
wlio  reads  the  story  of  the  contest,  finds  himself  most  triumphant 
in  his  feelings  over  the  moral  rather  than  the  martial  victory. 

GENERAL  SCHUYLER. 

When  we  read  the  story  of  the  event  which  we  now  celebi  te, 
whether  it  is  told  by  friend  or  foe,  there  is  one  figure  which 
rises  above  all  others  upon  whose  conduct  and  bearing  we  love 
to  dwell.  There  is  one  who  won  a  triumph  which  never  grows 
dim.  One  who  gave  an  example  of  patient  patriotism  unsur- 
passed on  the  pages  of  history.  One  who  did  not,  even  under 
cutting  wrongs  and  cruel  suspicions,  wear  an  a.ir  of  martyrdom, 
but  with  cheerful  alacrity  served  where  he  should  have  com- 
manded. It  was  in  a  glorious  spirit  of  chivalrous  courtesy  with 
which  Schuyler  met  and  ministered  to  those  who  had  not  only 
been  enemies  in  arms,  but  who  had  inflicted  upon  him  unusual 
injuries  unwarranted  by  the  laws  of  war.  But  there  was  some- 
thing more  grand  in  his  service  to  his  country  than  even  this 
honor  which  he  did  to  the  American  cause,  by  his  bearing  ui)on 
this  occasion.  The  spirit  of  sectional  prejudice  which  the  British 
cabinet  relied  upon  to  prevent  cordial  cooperation  among  the 
colonies,  had  been  exhibited  against  him  in  a  way  most  galling 
to  a  pure  patriot  and  a  brave  soldier.     But,  filled  with  devotion 


fi 


m 


60 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


to  his  country's  cause,  he  uttered  no  murmur  of  complaint,  nor 
did  he  for  a  moment  cease  in  his  labors  to  gain  its  liberties. 
This  grand  rebuke  to  selfish  intriguers  and  to  honest  prejudices 
did  much  to  discomfit  the  one  and  to  teach  the  other  the  injustice 
of  their  suspicions  and  the  unworthiness  of  sectional  prejudices. 
The  strength  of  this  rebuke  sometimes  irritates  writers  who 
cannot  rise  above  local  prejudices,  and  they  try  to  lessen  the 
public  sense  of  his  virtue  by  reviving  the  attacks,  proved  to  be 
unjust  upon  investigation,  and  which,  by  the  verdict  of  men 
honored  by  their  country,  were  proved  to  be  unfounded.  The 
judgment  of  George  Washington  and  of  the  pati'iots  who  sur- 
rounded him,  with  regard  to  men  of  their  own  day  and  affairs 
with  which  they  were  familiar,  cannot  be  shaken  by  those  who 
seek  to  revive  exploded  scandals  and  unfounded  suspicions. 
The  character  of  Gen.  Schuyler  grows  brighter  in  public  regard. 
The  injustice  done  him  by  his  removal  from  his  command,  at  a 
time  wlien  his  zeal  and  ability  had  placed  victory  almost  within 
his  reach,  is  not  perhaps  to  be  regretted.  We  could  not  well 
lose  from  our  history  his  example  of  patriotism  and  of  personal 
honor  and  chivalry.  We  could  not  spare  the  proof  which  his 
case  furnishes,  that  virtue  triumphs  in  the  end.  We  would  not 
change,  if  we  could,  the  history  of  his  trials.  P\)r  we  feel  that 
they  gave  luster  to  his  character,  and  we  are  forced  to  say  of 
Gen.  Schuyler  that,  while  he  had  been  greatly  wronged,  he  had 
never  been  injured. 


SABATOGA    MONUMEt^. 

The  association  formed  under  the  laws  of  this  state  to  erect  a 
suitable  monument  to  commemorate  the  defeat  of  the  British 
army  under  Burgoyne,  has  selected  this  spot  upon  which  to 
place  it,  because  here  it  will  recall  to  the  mind  not  only  the  final 
act,  but  every  event  which  led  to  the  surrender.  It  will  carry 
the  thoughts  of  him  who  looks  upon  it  back  to  the  fir.sfc  and  fierce 
fight  at  Oriskaiiy.  It  will  remind  i.  of  the  disaster  to  the 
British  forces  at  the  battle  of  BenningLon.  It  will  excite  the 
deepest  interest  in  tlu  contest  on  the  hills  at  Bemis's  Heights. 
It  will  do  more.     It  will  bring  before  the  public  mind  that  grand 


THE  Surrender  of  Eurgoyne. 


61 


procession  of  events,  which  for  two  centuries  have  passed  through 
tlie  valleys  of  the  Hudson  and  the  Mohawk.  When  it  shall 
excite  the  interests  which  attach  to  the  occasion  which  we  cele- 
brate linked  history  will  lead  the  public  mind  back,  step  by  step, 
to  the  earliest  period  of  the  French  and  Enfijlish  settlements  on 
this  continent.  We  shall  be  taught  what  made  the  savage  tribes 
of  this  region  superior  in  war  and  polity  to  their  kindred  races. 
We  shall  be  reminded  of  the  forays  of  savages,  the  march  of 
discipUned  armies,  the  procession  of  Christian  missionaries,  which 
exceed  in  dramatic  interest  and  in  far  reaching  consequences, 
all  other  incidents  of  war,  of  diplomacy,  and  of  religious  zeal 
exhibited  on  this  continent.  The  events  which  have  occurred 
in  these  valleys  have  also  been  closely  connected  with  the  most 
important  facts  of  European  history.  The  ambition  of  Louis 
the  fourteenth  of  France  aimed  at  suprem  ,  y  on  two  continents. 
The  prolonged  war  over  the  balance  of  power  in  Europe,  con- 
cerned the  civilization  of  America.  The  genius  of  Marlborough, 
and  the  victory  of  Blenheim,  were  of  more  enduring  consequence 
to  us  than  to  the  parties  engaged  in  the  contest.  They  did  not 
foresee  that  they  were  chaping  the  civilization  of  a  continent,  or 
tiie  destinies  of  a  people  at  this  day  exceeding  in  numbers  the 
united  populations  of  the  countries  engaged  in  the  war.  Where 
else  in  our  country  can  a  monument  be  placed,  from  which  will 
radiate  so  much  that  is  instructive  ?  Where  else  can  a  struct- 
ure be  erected  which  will  teach  such  varied  history  ?  Elsewhere, 
great  achievements  in  peace  or  war,  make  certain  spots  instinct 
with  interest.  Elsewhere,  the  great  features  of  nature  have 
influenced  the  fate  of  nations.  But  it  is  not  true  that  elsewhere 
mountains  and  rivers  have  been  such  marked  and  conspicuous 
agents  in  shaping  events.  Hcic  they  have  directed  the  affairs 
of  this  continent.  In  selecting  a  i)hice  where  a  monument  should 
stand,  this  association  has  not  been  embarrassed  by  any  questions 
us  to  the  comparative  importance  of  the  act  of  surrender  of  the 
British  army,  or  of  the  battles  v/hich  made  that  surrender  in- 
evitable. Each  has  its  peculiar  interest,  and  each  should  be 
marked  by  suitable  monuments.  B»it  the  last  scene  in  the  drama 
unfolds  to  the  mind  the  plot  and  incidents  which  reach  their 

0 


62 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


conclusions  at  the  close.  A  monument  on  this  ground  not  only 
commemorates  what  occurred  here,  but  it  recalls  to  the  mind  all 
the  incidents  and  battles  which  preceded  it,  and  gives  to  each  a 
deeper  interest,  than  when  they  are  considered  separately.  Each 
is  viewed  not  only  in  the  light  of  the  wisdom,  valor  or  patriotism 
displayed,  but  of  its  bearing  upon  the  grand  result.  He  who 
visins  the  scene  of  the  bloody  tight  at  Oriskany,  or  looks  over 
the  hills  where  the  men  of  Vermont  drove  back  the  troops  of 
Burgoyne,  or  studies  the  movements  of  the  armies  at  the  battle 
of  Bemis's  Heights,  finds  that  his  thoughts  do  not  rest  until  they 
dwell  upon  the  grand  conclusion  reached  upon  this  spot.  When 
his  mind  is  kindled  with  patriotic  pride  upon  either  of  the  battle- 
fields to  which  I  have  alluded,  he  will  turn  to  the  ground  upon 
which  we  now  meet,  and  thank  God  for  the  event  we  now  cele- 
brate. 

The  surrender  of  Burgoyne  marks  the  dividing  line  between 
two  conditions  of  our  country  :  the  one  the  colonial  period  of 
dependence,  and  the  other  the  day  from  which  it  stood  full 
armed  and  victorious  here,  endowed  with  a  boldness  to  assert 
its  independence,  and  endowed  with  a  wisdom  to  frame  its 
own  system  of  government.  From  this  review  of  the  past  we 
instinctively  turn  our  minds  and  try  to  scan  the  years  that 
are  to  come.  It  is  not  given  to  us  to  forecast  the  future.  But 
when  we  study  the  great  natural  features  of  our  country,  and 
see  how  they  have  directed  the  past,  we  learn  from  the  silver 
liidvs  of  rivers  and  the  rocky  chains  of  mountains  that  God  has 
written  and  stamped  on  the  face  of  this  continent,  that  it  shall 
ever  be  held  by  those  speaking  a  common  language,  with  a 
common  civilization,  and  living  together  with  that  freedom  of 
intercourse  which  shall  forever,  under  some  forms,  make  them 
one  people.  «■ 

A  monument  upon  this  spot  will  not  merely  minister  to  local 
pride  ;  it  will  not  foster  sectional  prejudices  ;  every  citizen  of 
every  state  of  this  union  will  feel  as  he  looks  upon  it  that  he 
has  a  right  to  stand  upon  this  ground.  It  will  tell  of  the  com- 
mon sacrifices  and  common  trials  of  the  fathers  of  the  republic. 
Men  from  all  parts  of  our  union  will  here  be  reminded  that  our 


THE  Surrender  of  Burguyne. 


G3 


independence  as  a  ])eople  was  wrought  out  by  the  sufferings  and 
sacrifices  of  those  who  came  from  every  quarter  of  our  country 
to  share  in  this  valley  in  the  perils  of  battle  and  in  the  triumphs 
of  victory.  Here  sectional  passions  will  fade  away  ;  and  the 
glorious  memories  and  the  fraternal  feelings  of  the  past  will  be 
revived. 

We  are  told  tliat  during  more  than  twenty  centuries  of  war 
and  bloodshed,  only  fifteen  battles  have  been  decisive  of  lasting 
results.  The  contest  of  Saratoga  is  one  of  these.  From  the 
battle  of  Marathon  to  the  field  of  Waterloo^  a  period  of  more 
than  two  thousand  years,  there  was  no  martial  event  which  had 
a  greater  influence  upon  human  affairs  than  that  which  took 
place  on  these  grounds.  Shall  not  some  suitable  structure  recall 
this  fact  to  the  public  mind  ?  Monuments  mj.ke  as  well  as  mark 
the  civilization  of  a  people.  Neither  France,  no."  Britain,  nor 
Germany,  could  spare  the  statues  or  works  of  art  wMch  keep 
alive  the  memories  of  patriotic  sacrifices  or  of  personal  virtues. 
Such  silent  teachers  of  all  that  ennobles  n^  ,.,  have  taught  their 
lessons  through  the  darkest  ages,  and  have  done  much  to  save 
society  from  sinking  into  utter  decay  and  degradation.  If 
Greece  or  Rome  had  left  no  memorials  of  private  virtues  or 
public  greatness,  the  progress  of  civilization  would  have  been 
slow  and  feeble.  If  their  crumbling  remains  should  be  swept 
away,  the  world  would  mourn  the  loss,  not  only  to  learning  and 
arts,  but  to  virtue  and  patriotism.  It  concerns  the  honor  and 
welfare  of  the  American  people,  that  this  spot  should  be  marked 
by  some  structure  which  shall  recall  its  history,  and  animate  all 
who  look  upon  it  by  its  grand  teachings.  No  people  ever  held 
lasting  power  or  greatness,  who  did  not  reverence  the  virtues 
of  their  fathers,  or  who  did  not  show  forth  this  reverence  by 
material  and  striking  testimonials  Let  us,  then,  build  here  a 
lasting  monument,  whicih  shall  tell  of  our  gratitude  to  those 
who,  through  suffering  and  sacrifice,  wrought  out  the  independ- 
ence of  our  country. 

GEORGE  WILLIAM  CURTIS'S  ORATION. 

Within  the  territory  of  New  York,  broad,  fertile  and  fair, 
from  Montauk  to  Niagara,  from  the  Adirondacks  to  the  bay, 
there  is  uo  more  memorable  spot  than  thao  on  which  we  stand. 


m 


64 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


Elaewhere,  indeed,  the  great  outlines  of  the  landscape  are  more 
innposing,  and  on  this  autumnal  day  the  parting  benediction  of 
the  year  rests  with  the  same  glory  on  other  hills  and  other 
waters  of  the  imperial  state.  Far  above,  these  gentle  heights 
rise  into  towering  mountains  ;  far  below,  this  placid  stream 
broadens  and  deepens  around  the  metropolis  of  the  conti- 
nent into  a  spacious  highway  for  the  commerce  of  the  world. 
Other  valleys  with  teeming  intervale  and  fruitful  tipland,  rich 
with  romantic  tradition  and  patriotic  story,  filled  like  this  with 
hai)py  homes  and  humming  workshops,  wind  through  the  vast 
commonwealth,  ample  chaimels  of  its  various  lifi^  ;  and  town 
and  city,  village  and  hamlet,  church  and  school,  everywhere 
illustrate  and  promote  the  prosperous  repose  of  a  conmiunity 
great,  intelligent  and  free.  But  this  spot  alone  within  our 
borders  is  consecrated  as  the  scene  of  one  of  the  decisive  events 
that  affect  the  course  of  history.  There  are  deeds  on  which 
the  welfare  of  the  world  seems  to  be  staked  ;  conflicts  in  which 
liberty  is  lost  or  won  ;  victories  by  which  the  standard  of 
human  progress  is  full  high  advanced.  Between  sunrise  and 
sunset,  on  some  chance  field  the  deed  is  done,  but  from  that 
day  it  is  a  field  enchanted.     Imagination  invests  it  with 

"  The  light  that  never  was  on  sea  or  land.  '* 

The  grateful  heart  of  mankind  repeats  its  name  ;  Heroism  feeds 
upon  its  story  ;  Patriotism  kindles  with  its  perennial  fire. 
Such  is  the  field  on  which  we  stand.  It  is  not  ours.  It  does 
not  belong  to  New  York  ;  nor  to  America.  It  is  an  indefeasi- 
ble estate  of  the  world,  like  the  field  of  Arbela,  of  Tours,  of 
Hastings,  of  Waterloo  ;  and  the  same  lofty  charm  that  draws 
the  pilgrim  to  the  plain  of  Marathon  resistlessly  leads  him  to 
the  field  of  Saratoga. 

The  drama  of  the  Revolution  opened  in  New  England,  cul- 
minated in  New  York,  and  closed  in  Virginia.  It  was  a  happy 
fortune  that  the  three  colonies  which  represented  the  various 
territorial  sections  of  the  settled  continent  were  each  in  turn 
the  chief  seat  of  war.  The  common  sacrifice,  the  common 
struggle,  the  common  triumph,  tended  to  weld  them  locally, 
politically  and  morally  together.     Doubtless  there  were  con- 


THE  Surrender  of  Buugoyne. 


66 


flictfi  of  provincial  pride  and  jealousy  and  suspicion  The 
Virginia  officers  smiled  loftily  at  tlie  raw  Yankee  militia  ;  the 
(ireen  mountain  boys  distrusted  the  polisliecl  discipline  of  New 
York  ;  and  the  New  York  Schuyler  thought  those  boys  bravo 
but  dangerously  independent.  In  every  great  crisis  of  the  war, 
however,  there  was  a  common  impulse  and  devotion,  and  the 
welfare  of  the  continent  obliterated  provincial  lines.  It  is  by 
the  few  heaven-piercing  peaks,  not  by  the  confused  mass  of 
upland,  that  we  measure  the  height  of  the  Andes,  of  the  Alps, 
of  the  Himalaya.  It  is  by  Joseph  Warren  not  by  Benjamin 
('hurch,  by  John  Jay  not  by  Sir  John  Johnson,  by  George 
Washington  not  by  Benedict  Arnold,  that  we  test  the  quality 
of  the  revolutionary  character.  The  voice  of  Patrick  Henry 
from  the  mountains  answered  that  of  James  Otis  by  the  sea. 
Paul  Revere's  lantern  shone  through  the  valley  of  the  Hudson, 
and  flashed  along  the  cliffs  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  The  scattering 
volley  of  Lexington  green  swelled  to  the  triumphant  thunder 
of  Saratoga,  and  the  reverberation  of  Burgoyne's  falling  arms 
in  New  York  shook  those  of  Cornwallis  in  Virginia  from  his 
hands.  Doubts,  jealousies,  prejudices,  were  merged  in  one 
common  devotion.  The  union  of  the  colonies  to  secure  liberty, 
foretold  the  union  of  the  states  to  maintain  it,  and  wherever 
we  stand  on  revolutionary  fields,  or  inhale  the  sweetness  of 
revolutionary  memories,  we  tread  the  ground  and  breathe  the 
air  of  invincible  national  union. 

Our  especial  interest  and  pride,  to-day,  are  in  the  most  im- 
portant event  of  the  Revolution  upon  the  soil  of  New  York. 
Concord  and  Lexington,  Bunker  Hill  and  Bennington,  the 
Brandy  wine  and  Germantown,  have  had  their  fitting  centennial 
commemorations,  and  already  at  Kingston  and  Oriskany,  New 
York  has  taken  up  the  wondrous  tale  of  her  civil  and  military 
achievements.  In  proud  continuation  of  her  story  we  stand 
here.  Sons  of  sires  who  bled  with  Sterling  on  the  Long  Island 
shove  ;  who  fought  with  Horkimer  in  the  deadly  Oneida  defile  ; 
who  defended  the  Highland  forts  with  George  Clinton  ;  who, 
with  Robert  Livingston  and  Gouverneur  Morris,  were  driven 
from  town  to  town  by  lytress  of  war,  yet  framed  a  civil  consti- 


66 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


tutioii,  all  untouched  by  the  asperity  of  the  conflict  and  a  noble 
model  for  all  free  states  ;  sons  of  sires  who,  leaving  the  plough 
and  the  bench,  gathered  on  this  historic  war-path  —  the  key  of 
the  then  civilized  continent ;  the  western  battle  ground  of  Eu- 
rope ;  the  trail  by  which  Frontenac's  Indians  prowled  to  Sche- 
nectady, and  crept  to  the  Connecticut  and  beyond  ;  the  way 
by  which  Sir  William  Johnson  and  his  army  passed  in  the  old 
French  war,  and  humbled  Dicskau  at  Lake  George  ;  the  road 

• 

along  which  Abercrombie  and  his  bright  array  marched  to  dis- 
aster in  the  summer  morning,  and  Amherst  marshaled  his  men 
to  cooperate  with  Wolf  in  the  humbling  of  Quebec  ;  sons  of 
sires,  who,  umsteriiig  here  on  ground  still  trembling  with  the 
tread  of  armies,  where  the  air  forever  echoes  with  the  savage 
war  whoop,  or  murmurs  with  the  pathetic  music  of  the  march 
and  the  camp  — 

"  Why,  BoldierB,  why 
Should  we  be  melancholy,  boye  ? 
WboBe  bueiiiesB  'tie  to  die  T' 

even  here  withstood  the  deadly  British  blow  and  enveloping 
the  haughty  Burgoyne,  compelled  not  only  him  to  yield  his 
sword,  but  England  to  surrender  an  empire  ;  sons  of  such  sires, 
who  should  not  proudly  recall  such  deeds  of  theirs  and  grate- 
fully revere  their  memory,  would  be  forever  scorned  as  faith- 
less depositaries  of  the  great  English  and  American  tradition, 
and  the  great  human  benediction,  of  patient,  orderly,  self-re- 
strained liberty. 

When  King  George  heard  of  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  he 
consoled  himself  with  the  thought  that  New  York  was  still  un- 
swervingly loyal  ;  and  it  was  the  hope  and  the  faith  of  his 
ministry  that  the  rebellion  might  at  last  be  baffled  in  that  great 
colony.  It  was  a  region  of  vast  extent,  but  thinly  peopled,  for 
the  population  was  but  little  more  than  one  hundred  and  sixty 
thousand.  It  had  been  settled  by  men  of  various  races,  who, 
upon  the  sea  shore,  and  through  the  remote  valleys,  and  in  the 
primeval  wilderness,  cherished  the  freedom  that  they  brought 
and  transmitted  to  their  children.  But  the  colony  lacked  that 
homogeneity  of  population  which  produces  general  sympathy 
of  conviction  and  concert  of  action  ;  which  gives  a  community 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


67 


one  soul,  one  heart,  one  hand,  interprets  every  man's  thought 
to  his  neighbor,  and  explains  so  much  of  the  great  deeds  of  the 
Grecian  commonwealths,  of  Switzerland,  and  of  Old  and  New 
England.  In  New  York,  also,  were  the  hereditary  manors  — 
vast  domains  of  a  few  families,  private  principalities,  with  feudal 
relations  and  traditions  —  and  the  spirit  of  a  splendid  proprie- 
tary life  was  essentially  hostile  to  doctrines  of  popular  right 
and  power.  In  the  magnificent  territory  of  the  Mohawk  and 
its  tributaries,  Sir  William  Johnson,  amid  his  family  and  de- 
pcMidants,  lived  in  baronial  state  among  the  Indians,  with  whom 
he  was  allied  by  marriage,  and  to  whom  he  was  the  vicar  of 
their  royal  father  over  the  sea.  The  Johnsons  were  virtually 
supreme  in  the  country  of  the  Mohawk,  and  as  they  were  in- 
tensely loyal,  the  region  west  of  Albany  became  a  dark  and 
bloody  ground  of  civil  strife.  In  the  city  of  New  York,  and  in 
the  neighboring  Cvounties  of  Westchester  upon  the  river  and 
sound,  of  Richmond  upon  the  bay,  and  Queens  and  SuflFolk  on 
the  sea,  the  fear  that  sprang  from  conscious  exposure  to  the 
naval  power  of  Great  Britain,  the  timidity  of  commercial  trade, 
the  natural  loyalty  of  numerous  officers  of  the  crown,  all  com- 
bined to  foster  antipathy  to  any  disturbance  of  that  established 
authority  which  secured  order  and  peace. 

But  deeper  and  stronger  than  all  other  causes  was  the  tender 
reluctance  of  Englishmen  in  America  to  believe  that  reconcilia- 
tion with  the  mother  country  was  impossible.  Even  after  the 
great  day  on  Bunker  Hill,  when,  in  full  sight  of  his  country 
and  of  all  future  America,  Joseph  Warren,  the  well-beloved 
disoiple  of  American  liberty,  fell,  congress,  while  justifying 
war,  recoiled  from  declaring  inde|)en(lonce.  Doubtless  the 
voice  of  John  Adams,  of  INIassnchusetts,  counseling  immediate 
and  entire  separation,  spoke  truly  for  the  unanimous  and  fer- 
vent patriotism  of  New  England  ;  but  doubtless,  also,  the  voice 
;"  John  Jay,  of  New  York,  who  knew  the  mingled  sentiment 
of  the  great  province  whose  position  in  the  struggle  must  be 
decisive,  in  advising  one  more  appeal  to  the  king,  was  a  voice 
of  patriotism  as  pure,  and  of  courage  as  uiupiailing. 

The  appeal  was  made,  and  made  in  vain.     The  year  that 


68 


Centennial  Celebration  op 


opened  with  Concord  and  Lexington,  ended  with  the  gloomy 
tragedy  of  the  Canada  campaign.  On  the  last  day  of  the  year, 
in  a  tempest  of  sleet  and  snow,  the  combined  forces  of  New 
England  and  New  York  made  a  desperate,  futile  onset  ;  and 
the  expedition  from  which  Washington  and  the  country  had 
anticipated  results  so  inspiring  was  dashed  in  pieces  against  the 
walls  of  Quebec,  The  country  mourned,  but  New  York  had  a 
peculiar  sorrow.  Leaving  his  tranquil  and  beautiful  home  up- 
on this  river,  one  of  her  noblest  soldiers  —  brave,  honorable, 
gentle  —  the  son-in-law  of  Livingston,  the  friend  of  Schuyler, 
after  a  brief  career  of  glory,  died  the  death  of  a  hero.  "  You 
shall  not  blush  for  your  Montgomery,"  he  said  to  his  bride  as 
he  left  her.  For  fifty  years  a  widow,  his  bride  saw  him  no 
more.  But  while  this  stately  river  flows  through  the  mountains 
to  the  sea,  its  waves  will  still  proudly  murmur  the  name,  and 
recall  the  romantic  and  heroic  story  of  Richard  Montgomery. 

The  year  1776  was  not  less  gloomy  for  the  American  cause. 
Late  in  November  Washington  was  hurriedly  retreating  across 
New  Jersey,  pursued  by  Cornwallis,  bis  army  crumbling  with 
every  step,  the  state  paralyzed  with  terror,  congress  flying 
aflFrighted  from  Philadelphia  to  Baltimore,  and  the  apparent 
sole  remaining  hope  of  American  independence,  the  rigor  of 
winter,  snow,  and  impassable  roads.  Ah,  no  !  It  was  not  in 
winter  but  in  summer  tl>at  that  hope  lay,  not  in  the  relentless 
frost  of  the  elements,  but  in  the  heavenly  fire  of  hearts  beating 
high  with  patriotic  resolve,  and  tiirning  the  snow  flakes  of  that 
terrible  retreat  into  immortal  roses  of  victory  and  joy.  W^hile 
Howe  and  his  officers,  in  the  warm  luxury  and  wild  debauchery 
of  the  city  they  had  captured,  believed  the  war  ended,  gaily 
sang  and  madly  caroused,  Washington,  in  the  dreary  Christ- 
mas evening,  turned  on  the  ice  of  the  Delaware,  and  struck  the 
Hessians  fatally  at  Trenton  ;  then  in  the  cold  January  sunrise, 
defeating  the  British  at  Princotown,  his  army  filed  with  bleed- 
ing feet  into  the  highlands  of  New  Jersey,  and  half  starved  and 
scantily  clothed,  encamped  upon  the  frozen  hills  of  Morristowii. 
"The  Americans  have  done  much,"  said  despairingly  one  ol 
their  truest  friends  in  England,  Edmund  Burke,  "  but  it  is  now 


THE  Surrender  of  Burqoyne. 


69 


evident  that  they  cannot  look  standing  armies  in  the  face." 
That,  however,  was  to  be  determined  by  the  campaign  of  1777. 

For  that  campaign  England  was  already  preparing.  Seven 
years  before,  General  Carleton,  who  still  commanded  in  Canada, 
had  proposed  to  hold  the  water  line  between  the  gulf  of  St. 
Lawrence  and  the  bay  of  New  York,  to  prevent  a  separation  of 
the  colonies.  It  was  now  proposed  to  hold  it  to  compel  a  sepa- 
ration. The  ocean  mouths  of  the  great  waterway  were  both  in 
complete  possession  of  the  crown.  It  was  a  historic  war  path. 
Here  had  raged  the  prolonged  conflict  between  France  and 
England  for  the  control  of  the  continent,  and  in  fierce  war  upon 
the  waters  of  New  York,  no  less  than  on  the  plains  of  Abraham, 
the  power  of  France  in  America  finally  fell.  Here,  also,  where  it 
had  humbled  its  proud  rival,  the  strong  hand  of  England  grasp- 
ing for  unjust  dominion  was  to  be  triumphantly  shaken  off. 
This  region  was  still  a  wilderness.  Seventy  years  before,  the 
first  legal  land  title  in  it  was  granted.  In  1745,  thirty  years 
before  the  devolution,  it  w.as  the  extreme  English  outpost.  In 
1777,  the  settlers  were  few,  and  they  feared  the  bear  and  the 
catamount  less  than  the  tory  and  the  Indian.  They  still  built 
block  houses  for  retreat  and  defence  like  the  first  New  Eng- 
land settlers  a  hundred  and  fifty  years  before.  Nowhere  during 
the  Revolution  were  the  horrors  of  civil  war  so  constant  and  so 
(lire  as  here.  The  tories  seized  and  harassed,  shot  and  hung 
the  whigs,  stole  their  stock  and  store,  burned  their  barns  and 
ruined  their  crops,  and  the  whigs  remorselessly  retaliated. 
The  stealthy  Indian  Citruck,  shrieked  and  vanished.  The  wolf 
and  the  wild  cat  lurked  in  the  thicket.  Man  and  beast  were 
('(|ually  cruel.  Terror  overhung  the  fated  region,  anc  as  the 
great  invasion  approached,  the  universal  flight  and  <levastation 
recalled  the  grim  desolation  in  Germany  during  the  thirty 
years'  war. 

Of  that  invasion,  and  of  the  campaign  of  1777,  th<' central 
ti<i;ure  is  John  Hurgoyne.  No  name  among  the  British  generals 
of  the  Revolution  is  more  familiar,  yet  he  was  neither  a  great 
soldier  nor  a  great  man.  He  was  willing  to  bribe  his  old  com- 
rade in  arms,  Charles  Lee,  to  betray   the  American  cause,  and 

10 


I 


70 


Centennial  Celebration  op 


he  threatened  to  loose  savages  upon  the  Americans  for  defending 
it.     Burgoync  was  an  admirable  type  of  the  English  fashionable 
gentleman  of  his  day.     The   grandson   of   a   baronet,  a  West- 
minster boy,  and  trained  to  arms,  he  eloped  with  a  daughter  of 
the  great   whig  house  of  Derby,  left  the  army  and  lived  gaily 
on  the  continent.     Restored   to  a   military  career  by  political 
influence,  he  served  as   a   captain   in  France,  and  returning  to 
England  was  elected  to  parliament.     He  went  a  brigadier  to 
Portugal,  and  led  a   brilliant   charge  at  Valentia  d' Alcantara, 
was  complimented  by  the  great  Count  Lippe,  and  flattered  by 
the  British    prime   minister.     For   his    gallantry  the  king   of 
Spa'u  gave  him  a  diamond   ring,   and   with  that  blazing  on  his 
finger  he  returned  once  more  to  England,  flushed  with  brief 
glory.     There  for   some   years   he  was  a  man  of  pleasure.     He 
wrote  slight  verses  and  little  plays  that  are  forgotten.     Rey- 
nolds painted  his  portrait  in  London,  as  Ramsay  had  painted  it 
in  Rome.     Horace  Walpole   sneered  at   him  for  his  plays,  but 
Lord  Chatham  praised  him  for  his  military  notes.     Tall  and 
handsome,  graceful  and   winning  in    manner,   allied  to  a  noble 
house,  a  favorite  at  court   and  on   parade,  he  was  a  gay  com- 
panion at  the  table,  the  club  and  the  theatre.     The  king  ad- 
mired his  dragoons,  and  conferred  upon  him  profitable  honors, 
which  secured  to   him   a  refined  and  luxurious  life.     In  parlia- 
ment, when  the   American    war    began,    Burgoyne    took  the 
high  British  ground,  but  with  the  urbanity  of  a.  soldier,  and  he 
gladly  obeyed  the  summons    to   service  in  America,  and  sailed 
with  Howe  and  Clinton  on  the  great  day  that  the  Jiritish  troops 
marched  to  Concord.     He   saw  the  battle  of   Bunker  Hill,  and 
pi aii-ed  the  American  courage  Jind  military  ability,  but  was  very 
sure  that  trained  troops  would  always  overcome  militia.     Tlie 
one   American  whom   he   extolled   was   Samuel   Adams.     Ho 
thought  that  be  combined  the  ability  of  Csesar  with  the  astute- 
ness of  Cromwell  ;  that  he   led    Franklin    and   all  the  other 
leaders,  and  that  if  his  counsels  continued  to  control  the  conti- 
nent, America  must  be  subdued  or  relinquished. 

Burgoyne  saw  little  actual  service  in  this  country  until  he 
arrived  at  Quebec  on   the  6th  of  May,  1777,  as  commander  of 


THE  Surrender  of  Burqoyne. 


71 


the  great  enterprise  of  the  year.  The  plan  of  campaign  was 
large  and  simple.  One  expedition  led  by  Burgoyne,  was  to 
force  its  way  from  Quebec  to  Albany,  through  the  valley  of  the 
Hudson,  and  another,  under  St.  Leger,  was  to  push  through  the 
valley  of  the  Mohawk,  to  the  same  point.  ,At  Albany  they 
were  to  join  General  Howe,  who  would  advance  up  the  river 
from  the  bay.  By  the  success  of  these  combined  operations, 
the  British  would  command  New  York,  and  New  England 
would  be  absolutely  cut  off.  This  last  result  alone  would  be  a 
signal  triumph.  New  England  was  the  nest  of  rebellion. 
There  were  the  fields  where  British  power  was  first  defied  in 
arms.  There  were  the  Green  mountains  from  which  Ethan 
Al'on  and  his  boys  had  streamed  upon  Ticonderoga.  There 
was  Boston  bay  where  the  tea  had  been  scattered,  and  Narra- 
gansett  bay  where  the  Gaspe  had  been  burned,  and  the  harbors 
of  Machias  and  of  Newport,  from  which  the  British  ships  had 
been  chased  to  sea.  There  were  Fanueil  Hall  and  the  town 
meeting.  There  was  Boston,  whose  ports  had  been  closed  — 
Boston  with  the  street  of  the  massacre  —  Boston,  of  which 
King  George  had  bitterly  said  that  he  would  "  as  lief  fight  the 
Bostonians  as  the  P^'ench.  "  There  were  the  pulpits  which 
preached  wha,  Samuel  Adams  called  liberty,  and  Samuel 
Johnson  sedition.  The  very  air  of  New  England  was  full  of  de- 
fiance. The  woods  rustled  it,  the  waters  murmured  it,  the 
stern  heart  o':  its  rugged  nature  seemed  to  beat  in  unison  with 
the  stout  heart  of  man,  and  all  throbbed  together  with  the  in- 
vincible Anglo-Saxon  instinct  of  liberty.  To  cut  off  New  Eng- 
land from  her  sisters  —  to  seize  and  hold  the  great  New  York 
valleys  of  Champlain  and  the  Hudson  —  was  to  pierce  the  heart 
of  the  rebellion,  and  to  paralyze  America.  Here,  then,  was  to 
be  the  crucial  struggle.  Here  in  New  York  once  more  the 
contest  for  the  western  continent  was  to  be  decided.  Burg«)yne 
had  airily  said  in  London,  that  with  an  army  of  ten  thousand 
men  he  could  promenade  through  America,  and  now  the  bril- 
liant gentleman  was  to  make  good  his  boast. 

While  he  was  crossing.the  ocean  to  begin  his  task,  and  when 
every  possible  effort  should  have  been  made  by  congress  tq 


72 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


meet  the  ample  and  splendid  preparations  for  the  British  inva- 
sion, wretched  intrigues  displaced  General  Schuyler  in  the  north- 
ern department,  and  it  was  not  until  late  in  May  that  he  was 
restored  to  the  command.  The  peril  was  at  hand,  but  it  was 
impossible  to  coUfcct  men.  By  the  end  of  June,  the  entire  gar- 
rison of  Ticonderoga  and  Fort  Independence,  the  first  great 
barrier  against  the  advance  of  Burgoyne,  consisted  of  twenty- 
five  hundred  continentals  and  nine  hundred  militia,  barefooted 
and  ragged,  without  proper  arms  or  suflicient  blankets,  and 
lacking  every  adequate  preparation  for  defense.  But  more 
threatening  than  all,  was  Sugar-loaf  hill,  rising  above  Ticonde- 
roga, and  completely  commanding  the  fort.  General  Schuyler 
saw  it,  but  even  while  he  pointed  out  the  danger,  and  while 
General  St.  Clair,  the  commandant  of  the  post,  declared  that 
from  the  want  of  troops  nothing  could  be  done,  the  drums  of 
Burgoyne's  army  were  joyfully  beating  in  the  summer  dawn  ; 
the  bugles  rang,  the  cannon  thundered,  the  rising  June  sun 
shone  on  the  scarlet  coats  of  Brittish  grenadiers,  on  the  bright 
helmets  of  German  dragoons,  and  on  burnished  artillery  and 
polished  arms.  There  were  more  than  seven  thousand  trained 
and  veteran  troops,  besides  Canadians  and  Indians.  They  were 
admirably  commanded  and  equipped,  although  the  means  of 
land  transport  were  fatally  insufficient.  But  all  was  hope  and 
confidence.  The  battle  flags  were  unfurled,  the  word  was  given, 
and  v.'ith  every  happy  augury,  the  royal  standard  of  England 
prou:lly  set  forward  for  conquest.  On  the  Ist  of  July,  the 
brilli!«nt  pageant  swept  up  Lake  Champlain,  and  the  echoes  of 
the  mighty  wilderness  which  had  answered  the  guns  of  Amherst 
and  the  drum-beat  of  Montcalm,  saluted  the  frigates  and  the 
gunboats  that,  led  by  a  dusky  swarm  of  Indians  in  bark  canoes, 
stretched  between  the  eastern  shore,  along  which  Kiedesel  and 
the  Germans  marched,  and  the  main  body  advancing  with 
Phillips  upon  the  west.  The  historic  waters  of  Champlain  have 
never  seen  a  spectacle  more  splendid  than  the  advancing  army 
of  Burgoyne.  But  so  with  his  glittering  Asian  hordes,  two 
thousand  years  before,  the  Persian  king  advanced  to  Salamis. 
At  evening  the  British  army  was  before  Ticonderoga.     The 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


73 


trained  eye  of  the  English  engineers  instantly  saw  the  advan- 
tage of  Sugar-loaf,  the  higher  hill,  and  the  rising  sun  of  the 
oiii  of  July  glared  in  the  amazed  eyes  of  the  Tieonderoga  gar- 
rison, on  the  red  coats  entrenched  upon  Sugar-loaf,  with  their 
batteries  commanding  every  point  within  the  fort,  and  their 
glasses  every  movement.  Sugar-loaf  had  become  Mount  De- 
fiance. St.  Clair  had  no  choice.  All  day  he  assumed  indiffer- 
ence, but  quietly  made  every  preparation,  and  before  dawn  the 
next  day  he  stole  away.  The  moon  shone,  but  his  flight  was 
undetected,  until  the  flames  of  a  fire  foolishly  set  to  a  house 
suddenly  flashed  over  the  landscape  and  revealed  his  retreat. 
He  was  instantly  pursued.  His  rear  guard  was  overtaken,  and 
by  the  valor  of  its  fierce  but  hopeless  fight  gave  an  undying 
name  to  the  wooded  hills  of  Hubbardton. 

Tieonderoga  fell,  and  the  morning  of  its  fall  was  the  high 
hour  of  Burgoyne's  career.  Without  a  blow,  by  the  mere 
power  of  his 'presence,  he  had  undone  the  electric  deed  of  Ethan 
Allen  ;  he  had  captured  the  historic;  prize  of  famous  campaigns. 
The  chief  obstruction  to  his  triumphal  American  promenad'" 
had  fallen.  The  bright  promise  of  the  invasion  would  be  ful- 
filled, and  Burgoyne  would  be  the  lauded  hero  of  the  war. 
Doubtless  his  handsome  lip  curled  in  amused  disdain  at  the 
flying  and  frightened  militia,  plough  boys  that  might  infest  but 
could  not  impede  his  further  advance.  His  eager  fancy  could 
picture  the  delight  of  London,  the  joy  of  the  clubs,  of  parlia- 
ment, of  the  king.  He  could  almost  hear  the  royal  George 
bursting  into  the  queen's  room  and  shouting,  *'  I  have  beat  all 
the  Americans."  He  could  almost  read  the  assurance  of  the 
minister  to  the  proud  earl,  his  father-in-law,  that  the  king  de- 
signed for  him  the  vacant  Red  Ribbon.  But  his  aspiring  am- 
bition surely  anticipated  a  loftier  reward  —  a  garter,  a  coronet, 
and  at  last,  Westminster  Abbey  and  undying  glory. 

Tieonderoga  fell,  and  with  it,  apparently,  fell  in  Europe  all 
liope  of  the  patriot  cause  ;  and  in  America,  all  confidence  and 
lia|)py  expectation.  The  tories  were  jubilant.  The  wavering 
Indians  were  instantly  open  enemies.  The  militia  sullenly  went 
liome.     The  solitary  settlers  fled  southward  through  the  forests 


74 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


k 


and  over  the  eastern  hills.  Even  Albany  was  appalled,  and  its 
pale  citizens  sent  their  families  away.  Yet  this  panic  stricken 
valley  of  the  upper  Hudson  was  now  the  field  on  which,  if  any- 
where, the  cause  was  to  be  saved.  Five  counties  of  the  state 
vere  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy  ;  three  were  in  anarchy.  Schuy- 
er  was  at  Fort  Edward  with  scarcely  a  thousand  men.  The 
weary  army  of  St.  Clair,  shrunken  to  fifteen  hundred  continen- 
tals, all  the  militia  having  dropped  away,  strugglcid  for  a  week 
through  the  forest,  and  emerged  forlorn  and  'ixhausted  at  the 
fort.  Other  troops  arrived,  but  the  peril  was  imminent.  New 
York  was  threatened  at  every  point,  and  with  less  than  five 
thousand  ill-equipped  regulars  and  militia  to  oppose  the  victori- 
ous Burgoyne,  who  was  but  a  single  long  day's  march  away, 
with  only  the  forts  and  the  boom  and  chain  in  the  Highlands 
to  stay  Clinton's  ascent  from  the  bay,  and  only  the  little  gar- 
rison at  Fort  Stanwix  to  withstand  St.  Leger,  General  Schuyler 
and  the  council  of  state  implored  aid  from  every  quarter.  A 
loud  clamor,  bred  of  old  jealousy  and  fresh  disappointment, 
arose  against  Schuyler,  the  commander  of  the  department,  and 
St.  Clair,  the  commander  of  the  post.  The  excitement  and  dis- 
may were  universal,  and  the  just  apprehension  was  most  grave. 
But  when  the  storm  was  loudest  it  was  pierced  by  the  calm 
voice  of  Washington,  whose  soul  quailed  before  no  disaster  : 
"  We  should  never  despair  ;  our  situation  has  before  been  un- 
promising and  has  changed  for  the  better  ;  so  I  trust  it  will  be 
again."  He  sent  Arnold  to  Schuyler,  as  an  accomplished  oflftcer, 
familiar  with  the  country.  He  urged  the  eastern  states  to 
move  to  his  succor.  He  ordered  all  available  boats  from  Al- 
bany to  New  Windsor  and  Fishkill,  upon  the  Hudson,  to  be 
ready  for  any  part  of  his  own  army  that  he  might  wish  to  de- 
tach. While  thus  the  commander-in-chief  cared  for  all,  each 
cared  for  itself.  The  stout-hearted  George  Clinton,  and  the 
council  of  New  York  were  thoroughly  aroused  and  alert, 
Vermont  called  upon  New  Hampshire,  and  the  White  mount- 
ains answered  to  the  Green  by  summoning  Stark  and  Whipple, 
who,  gathering  their  men,  hastened  to  the  Hudson. 

While  this  wild  panic  and  alarm  swept  through  the  country. 


THE  Surrender  of  Burqoyne. 


75 


Burgoyne  remained  for  a  fortnight  at  the  head  of  Lake  Cham- 
plain.     He,  also,  had  his  troubles.     He  was  forced  to  garrison 
Ticonderoga  from  his  serviceable  troops.     His  Indian  allies  be- 
gan to  annoy  him.     Provisions  came  in  slowly,   and  the  first 
fatal  weakness  of  the  expedition  was  already  i  >  crayed  in  the 
inadequate  supply  of  wagons  and  horses.     Bu     the  neighbor- 
ing tories  joined  him,  and  counting  upon  the  terror  that  his 
triumphant  progress  had  inspired,  he  moved  at  the  end  of  July 
from  Lake  Champlain  toward  the  Hudson.     His  march  was 
through  the  wilderness  which  Schuyler  had  desolated  to  the 
utmost,  breaking  up  the  roads,  choking  with  trees  the  navigable 
streams,   destroying   forage,    aTid   driving   away   cattle.     But 
Burgoyne  forced  his  w"v  through,  building  forty  bridges  and 
laying  a  log-wood  roa..    fr     two  miles  across  a  morass.     The 
confidence  of  triump'   che^n-.d  the  way.     So  sure  was  victory, 
that  as  if  it  had  been  a.  huge  pleasure  party,  the  wives  of  of- 
ficers accompanied  the  ^amp,  and  the  Baroness  lliedesel  came 
in  a  calash  from  F'lrt  George  to  join  her  husband  with  Bur- 
goyne.    But  befOi  ^  that  slwvly  toiling  army,  the  startled  fron- 
tier country  fled.     Almost  every  patriot  house   west   of  the 
Green  mountains  and  north  of  Manchester  was  deserted.     The 
tories,  proud  of  British  protection,  placed  signs  in  their  hats 
and  before  their  doors,  and  upon  the  horns  of  their  cattle, 
wearing  the  tory  badge,  as  Gurth  wore  the  collar  of  Cedric 
the  Saxon.     To  us  the  scene  is  a  j'omantic  picture.     The  scarlet 
host  of  Burgoyne  flashes  thiough  the  forest  with  pealing  music  ; 
the  soldiers  smooth  the  rough  way  with  roystering  songs  ;  the 
trains  and  artillery  toil  slowly  on  ;  the  red  cloud  of  savages 
glimmers  on  his  skirts,  driving  before  him  farmers  with  wives 
and  children,   faint  and  sick  with  cruel  apprehension,  flying 
through  a  land  of  terror.     To  us,  it  is  ai)icturc.     But  to  know 
what  it  truly  was,  let  the  happy  farmer  on  these   fjreen  slopes 
and  placid  meadows,  imagine  a  sudden  flight  to-night  with  all 
he  loves  from  all  he  owns,  struggling  up  steep  hills,  lost  in 
tangled  woods,  crowding  along  ditticult  roads,   at  every  step 
expecting  the  glistening  tomahawk,  the  bullet,  and  the  mercies 
of  a  foreign  soldiery.     Not  many  milei  from  this  spot,  the 


^.i 


76 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


hapless  Jane  Mac  Crea  was  killed  as  Burgoyne's  savages  hurried 
her  away.  Her  story  rang  through  the  land  like  a  woman's 
cry  of  agony.  This,  then,  was  British  chivalry  !  Burgoyne, 
indeed,  had  not  meant  murder,  but  he  had  threatened  it.  The 
name  of  the  innocent  girl  became  the  rallying  cry  for  armies, 
and  to  a  thousand  indignant  hearts,  her  blood  cried  from  the 
ground  for  vengeance.  We  come  with  song  and  speech  ami 
proud  commemoration  to  celebrate  the  triumph  of  this  d&y. 
Let  UK  not  forgot  the  cost  of  thfit  triumph,  the  infinite  suffering 
that  t'.ns  unchanging  sky  beheld  ;  the  torture  of  men  ;  the  heart- 
break of  women  ;  the  terror  of  little  children,  that  paid  for  the 
happiness  which  we  enjoy. 

Burgoyne  reached  the  Hudson  unattacked.  As  he  arrived, 
although  he  had  no  tidings  from  below,  he  heard  of  the  suc- 
cessful advance  in  the  valley  of  the  Mohawk.  St.  Leger  had 
reached  Fort  Stanwix  without  the  loss  of  a  man.  It  was  neces- 
sary, therefore,  for  Burgoyne  to  hasten  to  make  his  junction 
at  Albany  with  Howe  and  St.  Legcr,  and  on  the  6th  of  August 
he  sent  word  to  Howe  that  he  hoped  to  be  in  Albany  by  the 
22d.  But,  even  as  he  wrote,  the  blow  fatal  to  his  hopes  was 
struck.  Ort  that  very  day  the  patriots  of  Tryon  county,  men  of 
German  blood,  led  by  Nicholas  Herkimer,  were  hastening  to 
the  relief  of  Fort  Stanwix,  which  St.  Leger  had  beleaguered. 
The  tale  has  just  been  eloquently  told  to  fifty  thousand  children 
of  the  Mohawk  valley  gathered  on  the  field  of  Oriskany,  and  it 
will  be  told  to  their  children's  children  so  long  as  the  grass  of  that 
field  shall  grow,  and  the  waters  of  the  Mohawk  flow.  In  the 
hot  summer  morning,  Herkimer  and  his  men  marched  under 
the  peaceful  trees  into  the  deadly  ambush,  and  in  the 
depth  of  the  defile  were  suddenly  enveloped  in  a  storm  of  fire 
and  death.  Ah  !  blood-red  field  of  Oriskany  !  For  five  doubt- 
ful desperate  hours,  without  lines,  or  fort,  or  artillery,  hand  to 
hand,  with  knife  and  rifle,  with  tomahawk  and  spear,  swaying 
and  struggling,  slipping  in  blood  and  stumbling  over  dead 
bodies,  raged  the  most  deadly  battle  of  the  war.  Full  of  heroic 
deeds,  full  of  precious  memories  ;  a  sacrifice  that  was  not  lost. 
The  stars  that  shone  at  evening  over  the  field,  saw  the  Indian 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


77 


aiul  the  white  man  stark  and  stiff,  still  locked  in  the  death 
grapple,  still  clenching  the  hair  of  the  foe,  still  holding  the 
dripping  knife  in  his  breast.  The  brave  Herkimer,  fatally 
wounded,  called  for  his  Bible  and  tranquilly  died.  He  did  not 
relieve  the  fort,  but  it  held  out  until  Benedict  Arnold,  sent  by 
Schuyler,  coming  up  the  valley,  craftily  persuaded  St.  Leger's 
In'Vians  that  his  men  were  as  the  leaves  of  the  forest  for 
nunil)er.  The  savages  fled  ;  St.  Leger's  force  melted  away  ; 
the  Mohawk  expedition  hud  wholly  failed,  and  the  right  hand  of 
Burgoyne  was  shattered. 

Every  day  lost  to  the  English  general  was  now  a  disaster. 
But  his  fatal  improvidence  forced  liim  to  inaction.  He  could 
not  move  without  supplies  of  food  and  horses,  and  an  expedi- 
tion to  secure  them  would  also  serve  as  a  diversion  to  favor 
St,  Legor.  Three  days  after  Oriskany,  and  before  he  had 
heard  of  that  battle,  Burgoyne  detached  the  expedition  to 
Bennington.  New  England  was  ready  for  him  there  as  New 
York  had  been  at  Stanwix.  Parson  Allen  from  Pittsfield  came 
in  his  chaise.  Everybody  else  came  as  he  could,  and  when  the 
British  advance  was  announced,  John  Stark  marched  his 
militia  just  over  the  line  of  New  York,  where  the  enemy  was 
entrenched  on  the  uplands  of  the  Walloomsic,  and  skillfully 
surrounding  them,  the  Yankee  farmers  who  had  hurried  away 
from  their  summer  work,  swept  up  the  hill  with  fiery  and  re- 
sistless fury,  seized  the  blazing  guns,  drove  the  veteran  troops 
as  if  they  were  wolves  and  wild  cats  threatening  their  farms, 
and  after  a  lull  renewing  the  onset  against  fresh  foes,  the  New 
England  militia  won  the  famous  battle  of  Bennington,  and  the 
left  hand  of  Burgoyne  was  shattered. 

So  soon  was  the  splendid  promise  of  Ticonderoga  darkened. 
The  high  and  haughty  tone  was  changed.  "  I  yet  do  not  de- 
spond, '  wrote  Burgoyne  on  the  20th  of  August,  and  he  had 
not  yet  heard  of  St.  Leger's  fate.  But  he  had  reason  to 
fear.  The  glad  light  of  Bennington  and  Oriskany  had  pierced 
the  gloom  that  weighed  upon  the  country.  It  was  everywhere 
jubilant  and  everywhere  rising.  The  savages  deserted  the 
British  camp.     The   harvest  was  gathered,   and   while  New 

11 


78 


Centennial  Celebration  op 


England  and  New  York  had  fallen  fatally  upon  the  flanks  of 
Burgoyne,  Washington  now  sent  Virginia  to  join  New  York 
and  New  England  in  his  front,  detaching  from  his  own  army 
Morgan  and  his  men,  the  most  famous  rifle  corps  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. Hut  while  the  prospect  brightened,  General  Schuyler,  by 
order  of  congress,  was  superseded  by  General  Gates.  Schuyler, 
a  most  sagacious  and  diligent  officer  whom  Washington  wholly 
trusted,  was  removed  for  the  aUeged  want  of  his  most  obvious 
quality,  the  faculty  of  comprehensive  organization.  But  the 
New  England  militia  disliked  him,  and  even  Samuel  Adams 
was  impatient  of  him  ;  but  Samuel  Adams  was  oho  impatient 
of  Washington.  Public  irritation  with  the  situation,  and  jeal- 
ous intrigue  in  camp  and  in  congress  procured  Schuyler's  re- 
moval, lie  was  wounded  to  the  heart,  but  his  patriotism  did  not 
waver.  He  remained  in  camp  to  be  of  what  service  he  could, 
and  he  entreated  congress  to  order  a  speedy  and  searching  in- 
quiry into  his  conduct.  It  was  at  last  made,  and  left  him 
absolutely  unstained.  He  was  unanimously  acquitted  with  the 
highest  honor,  and  congress  approved  the  verdict.  General 
Schuyler  did  not  again  enter  upon  active  military  service,  but 
he  and  Rufus  King  were  the  first  senators  that  New  York  sent 
to  the  senate  of  the  United  States.  Time  has  restored  his 
fame,  and  the  history  of  his  state  records  no  more  patriotic 
name  among  her  illustrious  sons  than  that  which  is  commemo- 
rated by  this  village,  the  name  of  Philip  Schuyler. 

Largely  re-enforced.  Gates,  on  the  12th  of  September,  ad- 
vanced to  Bemis's  Heights,  which  the  young  Kosciuszko  had 
fortified,  and  there  he  awaited  Burgoyne's  approach.  Bur- 
goyne's  orders  had  left  him  no  discretion.  He  must  force  his 
way  to  Albany.  With  soldierly  loyalty,  therefore,  he  must 
assume  that  Howe  was  pushing  up  the  Hudson,  and  that  his 
own  delay  might  imperil  Howe  by  permitting  the  . .  mericans  to 
turn  suddenly  upon  him.  On  the  11th  of  September  he  an- 
nounced to  his  camp  that  he  had  sent  the  lake  flee*  to  Canada, 
that  he  had  virtually  abandoned  his  communications,  and  that 
his  army  must  fight  its  way  or  perish.  On  the  13th  he  crossed 
the  Hudson,  and  then  received   his   first  tidings  from  Howe,  in 


THE  Surrender  op  Bukgoyne. 


79 


a  letter  from  him  written  long  before,  and  which  did  not  even 
mention  a  junction.  Burgoyne  had  ah-cady  felt  himself  de- 
serted if  not  betrayed,  and  he  comprehended  his  critical  situa- 
tion. Howe  was  on  the  Delaware  and  Carleto'.i  would  give 
him  no  aid  from  Canada.  The  country  behind  him  was  already 
swarming  with  militia.  He  was  encamped  in  a  dense  forest, 
with  an  enemy  hidden  in  the  same  forest  before  hin>,  whose 
drum-beat  and  morning  gun  he  could  hear,  but  whose  numbers 
and  position  he  did  not  know.  Yet  while  he  could  see  nothing, 
every  movement  of  his  own  was  noted  by  an  eagle  eye  in  a  tree 
top  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  Hudson,  and  reported  to  Gates. 
And  when  at  last  Burgoyiie  marched  out  in  full  array,  with  all 
the  glittering  pomp  of  war,  to  find  the  foe  in  the  forest.  Gates  in- 
stantly knew  it.  Burgoyno  boldly  advanced,  his  communica- 
tion with  Canada  gone,  the  glory  of  Ticonderoga  dimmed,  the 
union  with  Howe  uncertain,  disaster  on  the  right  baud  and  on 
the  left,  the  peerage  and  Westminster  Abbey  both  fading  from 
hope,  and  he  suddenly  confronted  breastworks,  artillery  and  an 
eager  army.  He  must  fight  or  fly,  nor  did  he  hesitate.  At 
eleven  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  19th  of  Sei)tember,  he  ad- 
vanced in  three  columns  towards  G.ates's  line  on  Bemis's 
Heights.  At  one  o'clock  the  action  began  ;  at  four  it  was 
general  and  desperate  ;  at  five,  Burgoyne's  army  was  in  mortal 
peril  ;  at  nightfall  the  Germans  had  stayed  the  fatal  blow,  and 
the  battle  ended.  Both  sides  claimed  the  victory,  and  the 
British  bivouacked  on  the  field.  As  on  Bunker  Hill,  the  first 
battle  in  America  which  Burgoyne  had  seen,  if  this  were  a 
British  victory  another  would  destroy  the  British  army. 

Burgoyne  huddled  his  dead  into  the  ground,  hastily  entrenched 
and  fortified  a  new  position,  soothed  his  discouraged  army  and 
meditated  a  fresh  assault.  But  receiving  the  good  news  of 
Howe's  success  at  the  Brandywine,  and  of  the  immediate  ad- 
vance of  Clinton  to  break  through  the  highlands  of  the  Hudson 
and  fall  upon  the  rear  of  Gates,  he  dvoided  to  wait.  He  was 
oncamped  in  the  wilderness  without  communications,  but  he 
sent  word  to  Clinton  that  he  could  hold  o'.t  until  the  12th  of 
October.    Again  through  the  forest  he  ■    ^rd  the  morning  and 


80 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


evening  gun  and  the  shouting  of  the  American  camp,  and  once 
the  joyful  firing  of  cannon  tliat  he  could  not  understand,  but 
which  announced  American  victories  in  his  rear.  The  alarm 
of  the  liritish  camp  was  constant.  Tlu'  picket  firing  was  in- 
cessant. Ofticers  and  men  slept  in  their  clothes.  Rations  were 
reduced,  and  the  hungry  army  heard  every  night  the  howling 
of  the  wolves  that  hunted  the  outskirts  of  the  camp  as  if  mak- 
ing ready  for  their  prey.  At  last,  with  provisions  for  sixteen 
days  only,  and  no  news  from  Clinton,  Burgoyne  summoned  his 
generals  for  a  final  council.  It  was  the  evening  of  the  5th  of 
October,  and,  could  he  but  have  known  it,  Howe  at  German- 
town,  had  again  succeeded  and  Sir  Henry  Clinton  was  just 
breaking  his  way  through  the  Highlands,  victorious  and  deso- 
latijig.  On  the  very  morning  that  Burgoyne  fought  his  fatal 
battle,  the  river  forts  had  fallen,  the  boom  and  chain  were 
cleared  away,  the  marauding  British  fleet  sailed  intoNewburgh 
bay,  Clinton  sent  word  gaily  to  Burgoyne,  "Here  we  are  ! 
nothing  between  us  and  Albany,''  while  Putnam  was  hastening 
up  along  the  eastern  bank  and  (reoi'ue  Clinton  along  the  west- 
ern, rousing  the  country  and  rallying  the  flying  citizens  from 
their  alarm.  Of  all  this  Burgoyne  knew  nothing.  In  his  ex- 
tremity, his  own  plan  was  to  leave  boats,  provisions  and  maga- 
zines, for  three  or  four  days,  and  falling  upon  the  left  of  the 
Americans,  t«/  attemjjt  to  gain  the  rear.  The  German  General 
Riedesel  advised  falling  back  toward  the  lake.  The  English 
Fraser  was  willing  to  fight.  The  English  Phillips  wrts  silent. 
Compelled  to  decide,  Burgoyne  at  last  determined  to  reconnoi- 
tre the  Americans  in  force,  and  if  he  thought  that  an  attack 
would  be  unwise,  then  to  retreat  toward  the  lake. 

On  the  morning  of  the  7th  of  October,  at  ten  o'clock,  fifteen 
hundred  of  the  best  troops  in  the  world,  led  by  four  of  the  most 
experienced  and  accomplished  generals,  with  a  skirmishing  van 
of  Canadian  rangers  and  Indians  moved  in  three  columns  to- 
ward the  left  of  the  American  position  into  a  field  of  wheat. 
They  beg;in  to  cut  forage.  Startled  by  the  rattling  picket  fire, 
the  American  drums  beat  to  arms,  and  the  British  approach 
was  announced  at  headcjuarters.    Morgan  and  the  Virginia  sharp- 


Fiaser 
New  Yo 
whole  A 
Hurgoyi 
camp. 
The  BriJ 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoynb. 


81 


ghooters  were  thrown  out  beyond  the  British  right.  Poor,  with 
the  New  York  <ind  New  Hampshire  n«en,  moved  steadily  through 
the  woods  toward  the  liritish  left,  which  began  the  battle  with 
a  vip^orous  cannonade.  The  Americans  dashed  forward,  opened 
to  the  ritjht  and  left,  flanked  the  enemy,  struck  him  with  a 
blasting  fire,  then  closed  and  grajjpling  hand  to  hand,  the  mad 
mass  of  combatants  swayed  and  staggered  for  half  an  hour,  five 
times  taking  and  re-taking  a  single  gun.  At  the  first  the  fire 
upon  the  left,  the  Virginia  sharp-shooters,  shouting,  and  blaz- 
ing with  deadly  aim,  rushed  forward  with  such  fury  that  the 
ap])alled  British  right  wavered  and  recoiled.  Whileit  yet  stag- 
gered under  the  blow  of  Virginia,  New  England  swept  up,  and 
with  its  flaming  muskets  ])roke  the  English  line,  which  wildly 
Hod.  It  reformed  and  again  advanced,  while  the  whole  Ameri- 
can force  dashed  against  the  British  center,  held  by  the  Ger- 
mans, whose  right  and  left  had  been  uncovered.  The  Germans 
bravely  stood,  and  the  Hritish  General  Eraser  Imrried  to  their 
aid.  He  seemed  upon  the  British  side  the  inspiring  genius  of 
the  day.  Witli  fatal  aim  an  American  shar|)-shooter  fired  and 
Eraser  fell.  With  him  sank  the  British  heart.  Three  thousand 
New  Yorkers,  led  by  Ten  Broeck,  came  freshly  up,  and  the 
whole  American  line,  jubilant  with  certain  victory,  advancing, 
Burgoyne  abandoned  his  guns  and  ordered  a  retreat  to  his 
camp.  It  was  but  fifty-tM'o  minutes  since  tlie  action  began. 
Tlie  liritish  dismayed,  bewildered,  overwliehned,  were  scarcely 
within  their  redoubts,  when  Benedict  Arnold,  to  whom  the 
jealous  (iates,  who  did  not  (!f)me  upon  the  field  «luring  the  day, 
had  refused  a  connnand,  outriding  an  aid  whom  (iates  had  sent 
to  recall  him,  can>e  spurring  up  ;  Benedict  Arnold,  whosidiame 
America  does  not  love,  wisose  ruthh'ss  will  had  dragged  the 
doomed  Canadian  exp  'dition  through  the  starving  wildertu'ss 
of  Maine,  who  volunteering  to  relieve  I^'ort  Stanwix  had,  by  the 
mere  terror  of  his  (•<;ming,  blown  St.  Leger  away,  and  who,  on 
the  lOth  of  September,  had  saved  the  American  left, —  Bene 
ilict  Arnold,  whom  battle  Mtung  to  fury,  now  whirled  from  end 
to  end  of  the  American  line,  huiletl  it  against  the  (Jirat  Ue- 
<loubt,  driving  the  enei.iy   at  the   point  of  the   bayonet  ;  then 


82 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


flinging  himself  to  the  extreme  right,  and  fin  ding  there  the  Mas- 
sachusetts brigade,  swept  it  with  him  to  the  assault,  and  stream- 
ing over  the  breastworks,  scattered  the  Brunswickers  who  de- 
fended them,  killed  their  colonel,  gained  and  held  the  point 
which  commanded  the  entire  Hritish  position,  while  at  the  same 
moment  his  horse  was  shot  under  him,  and  he  sank  to  the  ground 
wounded  in  the  leg  that  had  been  wounded  at  Quebec.  Here, 
upon  the  Hudson,  whert  he  tried  to  betray  his  country,  here 
upon  the  spot  where,  in  the  crucial  hour  of  the  Revolution,  he 
illustrated  and  led  the  American  valor  that  made  us  free  and 
great,  knowing  well  that  no  earlier  service  can  atone  for  a  later 
crime,  let  us  recall  for  one  brief  instant  of  infinite  pity,  the 
name  that  has  been  justly  execrated  for  a  century. 

Night  fell,  and  the  weary  fighters  slept.  Before  day  dawned, 
Burgoyne,  exhausted  and  overwhelmed,  drew  of?  the  remainder 
of  his  army,  and  the  Americans  occupied  his  camp.  All  d.ay 
the  lines  exchanged  a  sharp  fire.  At  evening,  in  a  desolate  au- 
tumn rain,  having  buried  solemnly,  amid  the  Hash  and  rattle  of 
bombs  and  artillery,  his  gallant  friend,  Fraser  ;  lenving  his  sick 
and  wounded  to  the  mercies  of  the  foe,  Burgoyne  who,  in  the 
splendid  hour  of  his  first  advance  had  so  proudly  proclaimed 
"  this  army  must  not  retreat,  "  turned  to  fly.  He  moved  until 
nearly  day-break,  then  rested  from  the  slow  and  toilsome  march 
until  toward  sunset,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  0th  he  crossed 
Fish  creek  and  bivouacked  in  the  open  air.  A  more  viijorous 
march  —  but  it  was  impracticable  —  would  have  given  him  the 
heights  of  Saratoga,  and  secured  the  passage  of  the  river.  But 
everywhere  he  was  too  late.  The  American  sharpshooters 
hovered  around  him,  cutting  off  supplies,  and  preventing  him 
from  laying  roads.  Tliere  was,  indeed,  one  short  hour  of  hope 
that  Gates,  mistaking  the  whole  British  army  for  its  flying  rear- 
guard, would  exj)ose  himself  to  a  destructive  auibush  and  as- 
sault. When  the  snare  was  discovered,  ♦he  last  hope  of  Bur- 
goyne vanished,  and  unable  to  stir,  he  sat  down  grimly  north 
of  the  creek,  where  his  army,  wasted  to  thirty-four  hundred 
efl'ective  men  was  swiftly  and  con>i»letely  encircled  by  the 
Americans,  who  commanded  it   at  every  point,  and  harassed  it 


THE  Surrender  of  Burooyne. 


83 


with  shot  and  shell.  Gates,  with  the  confidence  of  overpower- 
ing numbers,  purposely  avoided  battle.  Burgoyne,  deserted  by 
his  allies,  his  army  half  gone,  with  less  than  five  days'  food,  with 
no  word  from  Clinton,  with  no  chance  of  escape,  prepared 
honorably,  to  surrender. 

On  the  14th  of  October,  he  proposed  a  cessation  of  arms  to 
arrange  terms  of  capitulation.  Ilis  agent,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Kingston,  was  received  at  the  crossing  of  the  cniek  by  Adju- 
tant-General Wilkinson,  and  was  conducted  by  him,  blindfold, 
to  General  Gates.  Gates's  terms  required  an  unconditional 
surrender  of  the  army  as  prisoners  of  war.  IJurgoyne,  anxious 
to  save  his  army  to  the  king  for  service  elsewhere,  insisted  that 
it  should  be  returned  to  England,  under  engagement  not  to 
serve  again  in  North  America  during  the  war.  Gates  had  no  wish 
to  prolong  the  negotiations.  He  had  heard  from  Putnam  that 
tlie  P]nglish  army  and  fieet  were  triumphantly  sweeping  np  the 
river,  and  that  he  must  e.vpect  "  the  worst,  "  and  he  therefore 
hastened  to  accei)t  the  pro|>osition  of  Burgoyne.  But  Wash- 
ington, with  his  Fabian  policy,  scorned  even  by  Samuel  and 
John  Adams,  had  made  "  the  worst "  impossible.  Hanging 
upon  the  army  of  Howe,  engaging  it,  although  unsuccessfully, 
at  the  Brandywine  and  at  Germantown,  he  had  iK'rj)le.\ed,  de- 
layed and  disconcerted  the  British  general,  gaining  ihe  time 
which  was  the  supreme  necessity  for  success  against  Burgoyne. 
By  reason  of  Washington's  ope rations,IIowe  could  not  strengthen 
Clinton  as"  they  both  expected,  and  Clinton  could  not  move  until 
his  slow  re-enforcements  from  over  the  sea  arrived.  When 
they  came,  he  burst  through  the  Highliiiids  indeed,  with  fire 
and  pillage,  and  hastened  to  fall  upon  the  rear  of  Gates.  But 
tii'lore  he  could  reach  him,  while  still  forty  miles  away,  he 
ln-ard  the  astounding  news  of  Buigoyne's  surrender,  and  he 
ilropped  down  the  river  sullenly,  buck  to  New  York,  he,  too, 
haftled  by  the  vigilance,  the  wu'"iness,  the  supreme  self-command 
«'!"  Washington. 

For  a  monuMit,  when  Burgovne  heard  of  Clinton's  success,  he 
thought  to  avoid  surrender.  But  it  was  too  late.  He  could 
not,    honorably,    recall    his    word.     At   nine    o'clock  on    the 


84 


Oektennial  Celebkat'ok  of 


morning  of  this  Jay,  a  I'tVi  ired  years  ago,  he  signed  the  con- 
vention. At  eleven  u'ciock  iiis  troops  marched  t(>  this  meadow, 
the  site  oi  old  Foit  ('..My,  and  with  tears  coursing  down 
bearded  cheeks,  with  passionate  sobs  and  oaths  of  rage  and  de- 
fiance, the  soUliers  kissing  their  guns  with  the  tenderness  of 
lovers,  or  with  sudden  frenzy  knocking  off  the  bulls  of  their 
muskets,  and  the  drummers  stamping  on  their  drums,  the 
king's  arniv  laid  down  thf'r  arms.  No  American  eyes,  '•xcept 
those  of  lUorgan  Lewis  and  James  Wilkinson,  aids  of  General 
Gates,  beheld  the  surrender.  As  the  British  troops  filed  after- 
wards between  tiie  An)erican  lines,  they  saw  no  sign  of  exulta- 
tion, but  they  heard  the  drums  and  fifes  playing  'Yankee 
Doodle."  A  few  minutes  later,  Hurgoyne  and  his  suite  mde  to 
the  headcpiarters  of  Gates.  The  English  geneial,  as  if  for  a 
court  holiday,  glittered  in  scarlet  and  gold  ;  Gates  plainly  clad 
in  a  blue  overcoat,  attended  by  General  S<!huyler  in  citizen's 
dress,  who  had  come  to  congratulate  him,  and  by  his  proud  and 
happy  staflF,  received  his  guest  with  urbane  courtesy.  They 
exchanged  the  compliments  of  soldiers.  "  The  fortune  of  war, 
Geneial  Gates,  has  made  me  your  prisoner.  "  Gates  gracefully 
replied,  "I  shall  always  be  ready  to  testify  that  it  has  not  been 
through  aiiy  fault  oi  your  Kxcellenr  y.  "  The  gem-rals  entered 
the  tent  of  Gates  und  dined  together.  With  tlu-  same  couitly 
compliment  the  English  general  toasted  General  Washington, 
the  American  general  toasted  the  ki"g.  Then,  as  the  English 
army,  withiut  artillery-  or  arms,  ajiproaehed  on  their  march  to 
the  sea,  the  two  generals  stepped  out  in  front  of  the  tent,  and 
standing  together  consjiicuous  \ij)()n  this  sjjot.in  full  view  of  the 
Americans  and  of  the  Hi-itisli  army,  (ieneral  Hurgoyne  drew  his 
sword,  bowed,  and  presented  it  to  (teneral  Gates.  General 
Gates  l)owed,  received  the  sword,  and  returned  it  to  General 
Burgoyne. 

Such  was  the  simple  ceremony  that  marked  the  turning  point 
of  the  Uevolution.  All  the  defeats,  indeed,  all  the  struggles, 
the  battles,  the  sacrifices,  the  sufferings,  at  all  times  and  in 
every  colony,  were  indispeiisible  to  the  great  result.  Concord, 
Lexington,  Hunker  Hill,  Moultrie,  Long  Island,  Trenton,  Oris- 


THE  Surrendeh  of  Burgoyne. 


86 


kany,  Bcniitnj;con,  the  ijrandvvine,  Gc^uuiau>v.'n,  Swrfefoga, 
Monmouth,  Camden,  Cowpen,  (.niiiford,  Euta>v  SpiLij^ij  Yo"k- 
town,  —  what  American  does  not  kindle  as  he  (.al!;-  lii*} glorious 
battle  roll  of  the  Revolution  I — whether  victoil'  <  or  ui'feats, 
are  ail  essential  li.t(ht8  and  shades  in  the  iinmorral  ict,:"i  •.  But, 
as  gratefully  acknowledging  the  service  of  all  th'  pj; liOts,  w« 
yet  call  Washington  father,  so  mindful  of  the  value  of  every 
evcKt,  we  may  agree  that  the  defeat  of  Burgoyne  determined 
Americati  independence.  Thenceforth  it  was  but  a  question  of 
time.  The  great  doubt  was  solved.  Out  of  a  rural  militia  an 
army  could  be  trained  to  cope  at  every  point  successfully  with 
tiie  most  experienced  and  disciplined  troops  in  the  world.  In 
the  first  bitter  moment  of  his  defeat,  liurgoyne  generously 
wrote  t )  a  military  friend,  "  A  better  armed,  a  better  bodied,  a 
more  alert  or  better  pr('i)ared  army  in  all  essential  points  of 
military  institution,  I  am  afraid  is  not  to  be  found  on  our  side 
of  the  question."  The  campaign  in  New  York  also,  where  the 
loyalists  were  strongest,  had  shown,  what  was  afterwards  con- 
stantly proved,  that  the  liritish  crown,  despite  the  horrors  of 
Cherry  Valley  and  Wyoming,  could  not  count  upon  general  or 
elfective  aid  from  the  tories  nor  from  the  iudiaits.  At  last  it 
was  plain  that  if  15ritain  would  coiKpier,  she  must  overrun  and 
crush  the  continent,  and  that  was  ini)  s^ssible.  The  shrewdest 
men  in  England  and  in  Europe  saw  it.  LorJ  North  himself. 
King  George's  chief  minister,  owned  '  raid  g.ieved  in  his  blind 
old  age  that  he  had  not  followed  his  jonviction.  Edmund 
Burke  would  have  made  peace  on  any  i<  ;ms  Charleb  Fox  ex- 
claimed that  the  mini  u-rs  knew  as  little  hu  '  to  make  peace  as 
war.  The  Duke  of  Ku-hmond  urged  the  impossibility  of  r-on- 
(piest,  and  the  historian  Gibbon,  who  in  parliament  ha«l  voted 
throughout  the  war  as  Dr.  Johnson  would  have  done,  iigroed 
that  America  wa  lost.  The  king  of  Krance  ordered  Franklin 
to  be  told  that  he  should  support  thecause  of  the  I'nited  States. 
In  A{)ril  he  sent  a  tieet  to  America,  and  from  that  time  to  the 
end  of  the  war,  the  French  and  the  Ameri<!uus  battled  together 
on  sea  and  land,  until  on  this  very  day,  the  17th  of  October, 
1781,  four  years  after  the  disaster  of  Burgoyne,  Cornwallii',  ou 

12 


86 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


i 


the  plains  of  Yorktown,  proposed  a  suvrender  to  the  combined 
armies  of  France  and  the  United  States.  The  terms  were  set- 
tled ur.on  our  part  jointly  by  an  American  and  a  French  officer, 
whilo  Washington  and  La  Fayette  stood  side  by  side  as  the  British 
laid  down  their  arms.  It  was  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne  that 
determined  the  French  alliance  anc^  the  P'rench  alliance  secured 
the  final  triumph. 

It  is  the  story  of  a  hundred  years  ago.  It  has  been  ceaselessly 
told  by  sire  to  son,  along  this  valley  and  through  this  land. 
The  later  attempt  of  the  same  foe  and  the  bright  djiy  of  victory 
at  Plattsburgh  on  the  lake,  renewed  and  confirmed  the  old  hos- 
tility. Alienation  of  feeling  between  the  parent  country  and 
the  child  became  traditional,  and  on  both  sides  of  the  sea  a 
narrow  prejudice  survives,  and  still  sometimes  seeks  to  kindle 
the  embers  of  that  wasted  fire.  But  here  and  now  we  stand 
upon  the  grave  of  old  enmities.  Hostile  breastwork  and  re- 
doubt are  softly  hi<lden  under  grass  and  grain  ;  shot  and  shell 
and  every  deadly  missile  are  long  since  buried  deep  beneath 
our  feet,  and  from  the  mouldering  dust  oi  mingled  foemen 
springs  all  the  varied  verdure  that  makes  this  scene  so  fair. 
While  nature  tenderly  and  swiftly  repairs  the  ravages  of  war, 
we  suffer  no  hostility  to  linger  in  our  hearts.  Two  months  ago 
the  British  governor-general  of  Canada  was  invited  to  meet 
the  president  of  the  United  States,  at  Beimington,  in  happy 
commemoration  not  of  a  British  defeat  but  of  a  triumph  of 
English  liberty.  So,  upon  this  famous  and  decisive  field,  let 
every  unworthy  feeling  perish  !  Here,  to  the  England  that  we 
fought,  let  us  now,  grown  great  and  strong  with  a  hundred 
years,  hold  out  the  hand  of  fellowship  and  peace  !  Here,  where 
the  English  liurgoyne,  in  the  very  moment  of  his  bitter  humil- 
iation, generously  pledged  (ieorge  Washington,  let  us,  in  our 
high  hour  of  triumph,  of  power,  and  of  hope,  pledge  the  (jueen  ! 
Here,  in  the  grave  of  brave  and  unknown  foemen,  may  nnitual 
jealousies  and  doubts  and  'animosities  lie  buried  forever ! 
Henceforth,  revering  their  common  glorious  traditions,  may 
England  and  America  press  always  forward  side  by  side,  in 
Qoble  and  inspiring  rivalry  to  promote  the  welfare  of  man  ! 


THE  Surrender  op  Burqoynb. 


87 


Fellow-citizens,  wii\9  the  story  of  Burgoy ne's  surrender  — 
the  revolutionary  glory  of  the  state  of  New  York  —  still  fresh 
in  our  memories,  amid  these  thousands  of  her  sons  and  daugh- 
ters, whose  hearts  glow  \,ith  lofty  pride,  I  am  glad  that  the 
hallowed  spot  on  whioh  vc;  stand  compels  us  to  remember  not 
only  the  imperial  state,  but  the  national  commonwealth  whose 
young  hands  here  together  struck  the  blow,  and  on  whose  older 
head  descends  the  ample  benediction  of  the  victory.  On  yonder 
height,  a  hundred  j'^ear"  agi»,  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  lay 
encamped.  Beyond,  and  further  to  the  north,  watched  New 
Hampshire  and  Vermont.  Here,  in  the  wooded  uplands  at  the 
south,  stood  New  Jersey  and  New  York,  while  across  the  river 
to  the  east,  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts  closed  the  trium- 
phant line.  Here  was  the  symbol  of  the  Revolution,  a  common 
cause,  a  common  strife,  a  common  triumph  ;  the  cause  not  of  a 
class,  but  of  human  nature  —  the  triumph  not  of  a  colony,  but 
of  United  America.  And  we  who  stand  here  proudly  remem- 
bering—  we  who  have  seen  Virginia  and  New  York  —  the 
North  and  the  South  —  more  bitterly  hostile  than  the  armies 
whose  battles  shook  this  ground —  we  who  mutually  proved  in 
deadlier  conflict  the  constancy  and  the  courage  of  all  the 
states,  which,  proud  to  be  peers,  yet  own  no  master  but  their 
united  selves  —  we  renew  our  heart's  imperishable  devotion  to 
the  common  American  faith,  the  common  American  pride,  the 
common  American  glory  !  Here  Americans  stood  and  tri- 
umphed. Here  Americans  stand  and  bless  their  memory. 
And  here,  for  a  thousand  years,  may  graceful  generations  of 
Americans  come  to  rehearse  the  glorious  story,  and  to  rejoice 
in  a  supreme  and  benignant  American  Nationality. 


88 


Centenmal  Celebration  of 


ALFRED  B.  STREETS  POEM.» 

READ    BY    COL.    K.    P.    HOWK. 


When  fell  Rome's  fabric  in  the  chnsm  it  wrought 

Dense  darkness  rushed  without  one  star  of  thought : 

Scowled  the  whole  midnight  heaven,  one  general  tomb, 

Where  formless  monsters  moved  in  Gothic  gloom. 

What  though  breathed  Music  in  Proventjal  bowers, 

And  architecture  wreathed  its  fadeless  flowers : 

The  loftiest  virtues  of  the  soul  lay  liead 

Right,  swordless,  crouched  to  Wrong's  crowned  conquering  head. 

And  though  grand  Freedom's  essence  never  dies, 

It  droojied,  despairing,  under  despot  skies. 

If  aught  it  asked,  Darius-like  the  throne 

At  its  awed  look,  in  wrathful  lightnings  shone. 

Its  food  the  acorn  and  its  home  the  cell, 

Its  only  light  but  showed  its  manacle  : 

Until  its  eye,  at  throned  Oi)pression's  foot, 

Saw  slavery's  towering  tree,  its  heart  the  root, 

Cast  Upas  shadow  o'er  one  common  grave, 

With  naught  but  its  own  soul  its  life  to  save. 

And  then  it  rose;  up  with  on(!  bound  it  sprang  ; 

Thunder  from  a  clear  sky  its  war-shout  rang;  — 

Out  like  a  sunburst,  flashed  its  fuichion  wide. 

Ami  gladdened  thousands  sought  its  warrior  side  ; 

As  the  ujist  streaming  from  some  towering  crag. 

It  spread  the  blazon  of  its  glittering  flag. 


In  savage  gorges  which  the  vulture  swept. 
In  lonely  caverns  where  the  serpent  crept, 
Closi  where  the  tumbling  torrent  hurled  its  spray, 
And  shadowy  cedars  twined  a  twilight  day  : 
Cluteiiing  its  sword  and  battling  on  its  knee. 
Still  Freedom  fouglit;  and  though  the  swelling  sea 
Of  cruel  Wrong  still  drove  it  struggling  higher 
It  could  not  quencli  its  pure  celestial  fire; 
From  peak  to  peak  it  rose  until  the  height 
Showed  it  but  heaven  wherein  to  take  its  flight. 


'  Th(^  text  gives  only  nuh  portions  of  the  poem  as,  owing  to  the  IfitencBB  of  the  hour, 
wore  read  on  tlic  uccasiou. 


THE  Surrender  of  Burqoyne. 


89 


Round  flew  its  glance,  it  saw  its  myriad  foes 
Following,  still  following,  rising  as  it  rose ; 
Following,  still  following  !  was  no  refuge  nigh? 
Naught  on  the  earth,  and  only  in  the  sky? 
Round  flew  its  glance,  it  pierced  beyond  the  wave ! 
Ha !  the  New  World  emerges !  —  shall  it  save  ? 
Hark,  a  wild  cry  !  It  is  the  eagle's  scream  I 
See,  a  broad  light,  the  far  league-conquering  stream 
Linking  all  climates,  where  it  reaching  flows ; 
Its  head  the  snow-drift  and  its  foot  the  rose. 
Mountains  rise  there  that  know  no  tread  of  kings; 
Blasts  that  waft  liberty  on  chainless  wings  : 
Lakes  that  hold  skies,  the  swallow  tires  to  cross  ; 
Prairies,  earth-oceans  ;  woods  a  whirlwind's  toss 
Would  seem  a  puny  streak  :  and  with  one  tongue 
All  tliiiiulered  "Come!"  the  welkin,  echoing,  rung 
"  Come!"  and  it  went;  it  took  its  Mayflower  flight; 
Fierce  raged  tiie  blast,  cold  billows  Imrled  their  might : 
Winter  frowned  stern,  it  pierced  to  Freedom's  heart; 
White  spread  the  strand  and  hunger  reared  its  dart; 
Round  the  frail  hut  the  panther  prowled,  the  gloat 
Of  the  wolf's  eyeball  starred  the  chimney's  throat; 
Though  winter  entered  in  its  heart,  it  braced 
With  strength  its  frame;  its  feet  the  forest  traced 
Despising  hardship ;  by  the  torrent  rocked 
Its  bark  canoe ;  the  wild  tornado  shocked 
Way  through  prostrate  woods,  it  grazing,  sent 
No  dread,  as  by  its  roof  it  whirling  went : 
Fn)m  choice  it  climbed  the  dizzy  cliff"  to  glance 
O'er  its  realm's  magnificent  expanse. 


BB  of  the  hour, 


Oh,  glorious  Freedom  !  grandest,  brightest  gift 
Kind  heaven  has  given  our  souls  to  heavenward  lift  I 
Oh,  glorious  Freedou) !  are  there  hearts  so  low 
That  its  live  flame  finds  there  no  answering  glow  ? 
It  soars  sublime  beyond  the  patriot's  h)ve 
Stateliest  that  sways  save  thought  that  dwells  above. 
Slaves  love  their  homes,  a  patriot  glad  will  die 
For  native  land,  though  she  in  ciiains  may  lie  ; 
Noblest  of  nil  the  soul  that  loves  to  fall 
In  the  red  front  at  Freedom's  sacred  call ; 
His  heart  right's  shield,  he  braves  the  despot's  ban. 
Not  for  himself  to  perish  but  for  man. 


90        Centennial  Celebration  op 

Bo  when  crowned  Wrong  made  here,  his  first  advance, 
Flashed  from  our  fathers  wratli's  immediate  glance ; 
Freedom  llieir  life,  the  sceptre  but  essayed 
Attempt,  to  send  their  swift  hand  to  their  blade. 
Their  serried  front  said  "  stay  1 "  their  eyes  "  beware  I 
Rouse  not  the  still  prone  panther  from  his  lair !  " 
But  vain  the  mandate,  vain  the  warning  spoke, 
The  king  strode  onward  and  the  land  awoke. 

State  I '  the  sight  recording  History  shows 

When  the  red  walls  of  our  Republic  rose. 

Reared  in  deep  woods,  beneath  a  scarce-known  sky 

In  puny  strifes  that  harilly  churned  tlie  eye ; 

Of  lands  still  trembling  with  the  thundering  track 

Of  Saxe  and  Marlborougli ;  where  startling  back 

Russia's  black  Eagle  had  the  Crescent  hurled . 

Threatening  so  late  to  dominate  the  world. 

*  *  «  *  « 

Three  threatening  strands  were  woven  by  the  Crown  — 
One  stretching  up  Cham  plain  ;  one  reaching  down 
The  Mohawk  valley,  whose  green  depths  .etaincd 
Its  Tory  heart,  Fort  Stanwi.v,  scarce  restrained. 
And  one  up  Hudson's  flood  —  the  three  to  link 
Where  stood  Albania's  gables  by  its  brink. 


Glance  at  the  picture,  ere  we  spread  our  wing, 

Of  the  grand  battle  whose  famed  deeds  we  sing. 

Here  spreads  Chnmpluin  witli  mountain-skirted  shore  — 

Caniadere  Ouarenlie — open  door 

Of  the  fierce  Iroquois  to  seek  their  foes 

In  regions  stretching  from  Canadian  snows. 

West,  in  a  purple  dream  of  misty  crag, 

ThOsAdirondacks  wavy  outlines  drag : 

East  the  Green  mountains,  home  of  meadowy  brooks. 

Of  cr()Ss-road  hiinilcts,  sylvan  school-house  nooks. 

Church-covered  hills  and  lion-hearted  men. 

Taught  by  the  torrent  tumbling  down  the  glen, 

By  the  grand  tempests  sweeping  round  the  cliff, 

By  the  wild  waters,  tossing  by  tlieir  skiff. 

Freedom,  till  Freedom  grew  their  very  life, 

And  slavery  with  all  earthly  curses  rife. 

Next  the  dark  Horican,  that  mountain-vein, 

Bright  jslct-spanglcd  tassel  to  Champlaiu  ; 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 

The  Highlands,  souled  with  Washington  and  grand 
With  hla  high  presence  watching  o'er  the  land  ; 
Thy  heights,  oh  Bemis !  green  with  woods,  yet  white 
Willi  flakes  orients,  zigzag  with  works  and  bright 
With  flags  ;  while  in  perspective,  we  discern 
Grouped  round  grami  Washington,  with  features  stern 
In  patriot  care  and  doubt,  the  forma  of  Waiyne, 
Putnam  and  Greene  and  all  the  shadowy  train 
Of  congress,  wrapt  spectators  from  afar 
Of  where  fierce  Battle  drove  his  flashing,  thundering  car. 


n 


As  when  some  dream  tumultuous  fills  the  night 

With  changeful  scenes  and  plunges  past  the  sight 

In  hazy  shapes  looks  frowning,  till  at  last 

With  all  its  weird,  wild  phantasm  it  is  past, 

So  the  broad  picture  as  it  melts  away, 

And  once  more  in  our  heart  peals  out  our  trumpet-lay. 


A  deep,  stern  sound !  the  startling  signal- war  I 

And  up  Champlain  Burgoyne's  great  squadron  bore. 

In  front  his  savage  ally's  bark  canoes 

Flashing  in  all  their  bravery  wild  of  hues; 

Their  war  songs  sounding  and  llieir  paddles  timed ; 

Next  the  bateaux,  their  rude,  square  shapes  sublimed 

With  pennon,  sword  and  bayonet,  casting  glow 

In  pencilled  pictures  on  the  plain  below ; 

Last  the  grand  ships,  by  queenly  Mary  led, 

Where  shines  Burgoyne  in  pomp  of  gold  and  red, 

And  then  in  line  St.  George,  Inflexible, 

And  Radeau,  Thunderer,  dancing  on  the  swell 

The  glad  wind  made ;  how  stately  shone  the  scene  I 

June  in  the  forests,  each  side  smiling  green  ! 

O'er  her  dark  dome  the  chestnut's  tassels  stretched 

Like  golden  Angers  ;  pearl  that  seemed  as  fetched 

From  Winter's  heart  the  locust  mantled  o'er, 

While  its  rich,  creamy  mass  the  d(jgwood  bore. 

Like  a  white  helmet  with  its  plumes  atop. 

And  the  sweet  basswood  higher  appeared  adrop 

With  ivory  gems :  the  hemlock  showed  its  edge 

Fringed  with  fresh  emerald  ;  even  the  sword-like  sedge 

Sharp  mid  the  snowy  lily-goblels  set 

In  the  nook  shallows,  like  a  spangled  net 

Was  jewelled  with  brown  bloom.    By  curving  point 


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Centennial  Celebration  of 


''■Br 


Where  glittering  ripples  amber  sands  anoint 

Willi  foamy  silver ;  by  deep,  crescent  bays 

Sleeping  beneath  their  veil  of  drowsy  haze, 

By  watery  coverts  shimmering  faint  in  film, 

Broad,  rounded  knolls,  one  white  and  rosy  realm 

Of  laurel  blossom,  with  the  Kalmia-urns 

Dotted  with  red,  the  fleet,  as  sentient,  turns 

The  winding  channel ;  in  tall  towers  of  white 

The  stately  ships  absorb  the  emerald  light 

Glossing  the  lake  ;  like  huge,  dark  claw-urged  crabs 

Ply  the  bateaux  their  poles  ;  the  paddle-stabs 

Of  the  canoes  make  music  as  they  move, 

Gliding  along  uujarred,  as  in  its  groove 

The  car-wheel  glides ;  the  panther  views  the  scene 

And  bears  her  cubs  within  the  thicket's  screen  ; 

The  wolf  lifts  sharpened  ear  and  forward  foot ; 

Waddles  tlie  bear  away  with  startled  hoot, 

As  some  sail  sends  a  sudden  Hash  of  white 

In  the  cove's  greenery,  slow  essaying  flight 

The  loon  rears,  flapping,  its  checked,  grazing  wings, 

Till  up  it  struggling  flies  and  downward  flings 

Its  Indian  whoop;  the  blue-bird's  sapphire  spark 

Kindles  the  shade ;  the  swarming  pigeon's  dark 

Deep  blue  breaks  out ;  the  robin's  warble  swells 

In  crumply  cadence  from  the  skirting  dells: 

And  restless  rings  tl)e  bobolink's  bubbly  note 

From  the  clear  bell  that  tinkles  in  his  throat. 

Thus  stately,  cheerily  move  the  thronging  fleet! 

O'er  the  lake's  steel  the  blazing  sunbeams  hvat ; 

But  now  a  blast  comes  blustering  from  a  gorge. 

The  whitecaps  dance  ;  it  bends  tlie  tall  St.  George 

And  even  the  Thunderer  tosses:  the  array 

Breaks  up ;  canoe,  bateau  grope  doubtful  way 

Through  tlie  dim  air;  in  spectral  white  each  sail 

Glances  and  shivers  in  the  whistling  gale  ; 

All  the  green  paintings  of  point,  bank  and  tree 

Vanish  in  black  and  white,  and  all  but  see 

A  close  horizon  where  near  islands  lose 

Their  shapes  and  distant  ranks  of  forest  fuse 

Into  a  mass  ;  at  last  the  blast  flies  off. 

Shallows  stop  rattling,  and  the  hollow  cough 

Of  surges  into  caves  makes  gradual  cease 

Till  on  the  squadron  glides,  once  more  in  sunny  peace. 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 

So  in  some  blue-gold  day  white  clouds  up-float 

In  shining  throng,  and  then  are  daslied  remote 

By  a  fierce  wind,  next  join  in  peace  again 

And  smoothly  winnow  o'er  the  heavenly  plain, 

Or  some  fleet  of  wild  fowl  on  the  lake 

Dipping  and  preening  quiet  journey  take, 

Till  the  sky  drops  an  eagle  circling  low 

For  the  straight  plunge,  wild  scattering  to  and  fro. 
*  *  *  *  * 

When  lay  Champlain  in  eve's  gold-plated  glass, 
And  rich,  black  pictures  etched  the  glowing  grass. 
The  crews  debarked,  their  camp-fires  round  would  rear, 
And  hang  their  kettles  for  their  nightly  cheer ; 
Then  rose  the  tents,  like  mushrooms  to  the  moon, 
Swords  would  be  edged  and  muskets  polished  ;  soon 
Slumber  would  fan  its  wings,  and  in  the  bright. 
Soft,  delicate  peace  would  croon  the  summer  night. 


93 


Then  the  gray  day-dawn  through  the  leaves  would  look. 
Red  coats  would  gleam  in  every  emerald  nook 
And  weapons  glitter ;  as  the  mist  would  crawl 
From  the  smooth  lake  and  up  the  forest-wall. 
Sails  would  shine  out  and  spottings  of  canoe 
Moored  with  bateau  wotdd  thicken  on  the  view ; 
Rings  of  dead  ashes,  fallen  trees  half  burned. 
Trunks  into  black  Egyptian  marble  turned. 
Where  curling  fires  had  scorched  the  streaky  moss, 
Roofs  of  dead  leaves  where  brunches  stooped  across. 
And  soil  burned  black  and  smoking  still  would  show 
Where  through  the  night  had  shone  the  camp-fire  glow  ; 
Limbs  drooping  down  and  logs  with  gaping  cuts 
Where  the  brigade  had  reared  their  bushy  huts; 
A  deer's  head  on  a  stump,  a  bear  skin  cast 
On  trampled  ferns  — the  red  man's  late  repast; 
The  damp  drum's  beat  would  sound,  and  shrilly  fife, 
Dingle  and  aisle  would  flash  with  martial  life; 
Once  more  the  fleet  would  start  and.up  their  way 
Take  as  the  whole  scene  brightened  into  day. 


On  Lady  Mary's  deck  Burgoyne  would  stand. 
Drinking  the  sights  and  sounds  at  either  hand, 
Replete  with  beauty  to  his  poet-heart, 
Laughing  to  scorn  man's  paltry  works  of  art, 

13 


94 


Centennial  Celebration  op 


The  grassy  visfa  with  its  grazing  deer, 

Tlie  lone  loon  ioaring  on  its  shy  career, 

The  withered  pine  tree  with  its  fish-hawk  nest, 

The  eagle  eyrie  on  some  craggj  crest, 

The  rich  white  lilies  that  wild  shallow  told. 

Their  yellow  sisters  with  their  globes  of  gold 

At  the  stream's  mouth  ;  the  ever  chanceful  lake, 

Here  a  green  gleaming,  there  a  shadowy  rake 

Of  scudding  air-breath  ;  here  a  dazzling  flash 

Searing  the  eyeball ;  there  a  sudden  dash 

Of  white  from  some  swift  cloud ;  a  streak  of  white 

The  wake  of  some  scared  duck  avoiding  sight. 
«  «  «  «  * 

Changing  the  scene,  Burgoyne  his  camp  would  trace 

Round  the  Red  House  at  the  Great  Carrying  Place ; 

There  when  the  sun  is  bright  the  sentry  sees 

Madame  Riedesel  dining  under  trees. 

As  the  chasseur  beholds  her  gliding  round 

Off  flies  his  bear-skin  helmet  to  the  ground. 

«  *  *  *  * 

Meanwhile  the  tidings  of  Oriskany 

And  Bennington  careered,  and  glad  and  free 

Hope  spread  white  pinions ;  throngs  to  Schuyler  pour 

Swelling  his  ranks,  all  abject  terror  o'er. 

Poor  Jennie's  mournful  doom  has  roused  an  ire 

Wrapping  the  region  with  consuming  fire. 

The  boy  strode  downward  in  his  rustic  sleeves. 

His  coarse  frock  fragrant  with  the  wheaten  sheaves ; 

The  old  blue  swallow-tailed  artillerj'  coat 

Trod  by  the  hunting  shirt  from  wilds  remote. 


But  on !  the  morning  dawns :  still  on  !  the  height 

Of  Saratoga  hails  the  pallid  light 

Of  closing  eve,  and  here  at  last  the  weigiied 

And  weary  step  of  poor  Burgoyne  is  stayed. 

Gates  follows  after  from  the  jewelled  isles 

Of  Horican,  the  stately  rocky  piles 

Of  blue  Luzerne,  where  the  majestic  crags 

Of  "  Potash  Kettles  "  change  the  clouds  to  flags. 

Within  a  ball-swept  tent  Burgoyne  sits  now 

In  council  with  despair  upon  his  brow; 

Curtains  of  scowling  blackness  fold  him  round, 

Closed  is  the  net  and  he  is  firmly  bound. 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne.        95 

Turns  he  toward  Horican  ?  the  foe  is  then  I 

East,  Fellows'  cannon-lightnings  scorch  the  air. 

West,  the  live  forest  but  his  coming  wails,  ' 

And  in  his  rear  the  frowning  front  of  Gates. 

«  *  *  *  « 

On  the  Fort  Hardy  green,  this  dainty  day, 

The  conquered  hosts  of  England  march,  to  )ay 

Their  weapons  down.    The  hour  has  struck,  and  now 

With  heavy  footstep  and  with  sullen  brow 

They  come,  bat  with  no  patriot  eye  to  see. 

For  nobly  Gates  in  generous  sympathy 

Has  banished  all  within  their  tents.    They  come 

Yet  with  no  banner  spread,  no  beating  drum. 

Tramp,  tramp,  they  come !  tramp,  tramping  rank  on  rank! 

Tramp,  tramp,  they  come!  tramp,  tramping;  hark,  that  clank! 

Those  piling  arms!  clank,  clank  !  that  tolling  knell 

To  bowed  Burgoyne !  what  bitter,  bitter  swell 

Of  his  proud  heart !  ah,  sad  Burgoyne  !  what  death 

To  thy  high  hopes,  all  vanished  like  a  breath  I 


Loudly  may  laureled  Saratoga  claim 

A  marble  tribute  to  her  splendid  fame! 

In  the  grand  chariot  which  her  war-steeds  drew 

She  first  placed  Freedom,  pointed  to  her  view 

The  glorious  goal.    Shall  pagan  Egypt  bid 

The  heavens  be  cloven  with  her  pyramid  ? 

Shall  Greece  shrine  Pliidias  in  her  Parthenon 

To  live  till  ■  ide  the  stars  and  dies  the  sun  ? 

Rome  with  her  mighty  Coliseum  whelm 

The  earth  with  awe  ?  —  a  peerless,  wondrous  realm  — 

And  our  free  nation  meanly  shrink  to  write 

With  marble  finger  in  the  whole  world's  sight 

Grand  Saratoga's  glory  ?  Sound  aloud 

Song  thy  wide  trumpet !  let  the  heavens  be  bowed 

With  love  of  country's  wrathful  thunders,  till 

A  reverent  people  with  united  will 

Shall  bid  the  monument  arise  and  stand 

Freedom's  embodied  form  forever  in  the  land. 


96 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


EX-SENATOR  FOSTER'S  ADDRESS. 

In  introducing  tlie  spealier  to  the  audience,  Judge  Lester  said : 
Fellow  Citizens  :  I  take  pleasure  in  informing  you  tliat  tliere  is  on 
the  platform  with  me  the  son  of  a  soldier  who  fought  at  Bemis's  Heights 
one  hundred  years  ago.  (Clieers)  But  that  is  not  his  only  title  to  our 
esteem.  He  has  served  his  own  state  with  distinction  in  tli  United 
Slates  senate,  and  hasheen  vice-piesident  of  these  United  States.  I  have 
the  honor  to  introduce  to  you  Senator  Foster  from  Connecticut. 

Ex-Senator  Foster  then  stepping  to  the  front  of  the  platform  spoke  ns 
follows : 

Will  you  pardon  me,  fellow  citizens,  if  I  say  that  I  am  quite 
in  sympathy  with  the  whole  of  this  vast  crowd  which  surrounds 
this  stand  ?     The  thought  that  is  uppermost  in  all  your  minds 
at  this  moment  I  am  sure   is   that  he  must  be  a  bold  man,  bold 
even  to  rashness,  who  should  dare  at  this  hour  of  this  day  to 
stand  before  you  with  the  design  of  making  a  speech.     The 
eloquence  of  two  most  distinguished  citizens  of   the   Empire 
state  is   yet  ringing  in   your  ears.     They  have  discussed   the 
great  event  which  we  are  assembled  to  commemorate  and  per- 
petuate, in  such  a  manner  as  to  leave  nothing  to  be  added  ; 
at  least  I  have  not  the  courage  to  attempt  it,  and  I  trust  I  have 
no  cowai'dly  blood  in  my  veins,  for  my  father  stood  on  this 
field  one  hundred  years  ago  to-day.     In  the  battles  which  pre- 
ceded tlie  surrender  he  bore  an   active  part,  and  I  think  that  I 
am  warranted  in  saying  that  he  performed  his  duty  faithfully 
and  well.     My  mother  had  two  brothers  here.     My  state  had 
two  regiments  here,   and  several  troops  of  Light  Horse.     So  I 
don't  f(ol  myself  a  stranger  or  intruder  here.     Your  worthy  ex- 
governor  has  courteously  said,  that  though  this  celebration  was 
in  the  state  of  New  York,  for  a  victory  won  on  the  soil  of  New 
York,  it  was  not  alone  a  New  York  celebration.     The  descend- 
ants  of  those   from   other   states,    who  aided  in  winning  the 
victory,  were  here,  not  as  guests,  but  because  they  had  a  right 
to  be  here.     One  of   the   Connecticut   regiments   was  made  up 
from  the  eastern   part   of  the   state,  from    New  London  and 
Windham  counties.     To  that   my  father  belonged.     He  was  a 
lieutenant  in  the  line  and  adjutant  of  the  regiment.     Colonel 


THE  Surrender  of  Burqoyne. 


ft 


Latimer  was  the  commander.  My  father's  warrant  as  adjutant 
is  dated  the  17th  of  October,  1777,  and  was  given  on  the  field. 
He  has  been  dead  fifty-three  years,  and  tlie  earliest  recollec- 
tions of  my  boyhood  are  sitting  on  his  knee  and  listening  to  the 
stories  of  the  march,  the  camp  and  the  battle  field,  with  all  the 
eagerness  belonging  to  that  period  of  life.  Those  tales  made 
an  impression  on  my  mind  too  deep  and  too  vivid  ever  to  be 
erased.  May  I  quote  to  you  a  stanza  of  a  song,  which  he  was 
in  the  habit  of  singing,  especially  on  the  return  of  this  day,  a 
day  he  never  failed  to  celebrate,  as  he  celebrated  the  4th  of 
July.     It  ran  thus  : 

"The  17th  of  October, 

The  morning  being  clear, 
Brave  Gates  unto  his  men  did  eay 
,  .  j^  'My  boys  be  of  good  cheer, 

'  ,  For  Burgoyne  he  is  advancing, 

And  we  will  never  fly. 
But  tu  maintain  onr  chartered  rights, 
We'll  fight  uutil  we  die.' " 

The  eloquent  orator  who  has  preceded  me  has  alluded  to  the 
manner  in  which  General  Arnold  bore  himself  on  the  field  at 
the  final  battle  before  the  surrender.  I  well  recollect  liearing  my 
father  say  that  Arnold  came  dashing  along  the  line,  the  speed  at 
which  he  rode  leaving  his  aid  far  behind,  and  as  he  came  up  to 
my  father's  regiment  he  called  out,  "  Whose  regiment  is  this  ?" 
My  father  replied,  "  Col.  Latimer's,  sir.  "  "  Ah, "  said  he,  "  my 
old  Norwich  and  New  London  friends.  God  bless  you  ;  1  am 
glad  to  see  you.  Now  come  on,  boys  ;  if  the  day  is  long 
enough,  we'll  have  them  all  in  hell  before  night. "  General 
Arnold  wis  a  native  of  Norwich,  and  was  born  within  fifty  rods 
of  my  house  in  that  town.  Until  after. this  surrender,  we  felt 
proud  of  him  as  a  son  of  Connecticut.  Subsequently,  he  be- 
came a  son  of  perdition,  and  so  we  let  him  pass. 

Among  the  numerous  incidents  that  my  father  used  to  relate, 
which  occurred  a  short  time  prior  to  the  sunender  of  Bu?-goyne, 
I  call  to  mind  one  that  I  will  repeat.  His  regiment  was  or- 
dered at  a  certain  time  to  take  up  a  new  position.  In  marching 
through  the  woods  to  the  post  assigned  them,  they  encountered 
a  body  of  Hessians  who  were  lying  in  ambush  in  their  way,  and 
who  rose  up   suddenly   and   fired   upon  them.     My  father  was 


98 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


marching  by  the  side  of  Colonel  Latiraer.     On  receiving  the 
enemy's  fire,  the  colonel  slapped   his  hand  on  his  thigh,  as  my 
father  thought  in  a  rather  excited  manner,  and  called  out,  fire  ! 
The  order  was  very  promptly  obeyed,  and  the  order  to  form  in 
line  was  almost   simultaneously  given.     My  father  was  march- 
ing with  a  musket,  which  he  snapped  when  *\\e  order  to  fire  was 
given,  but  from  some  defect   in   the   musket-lock,  it  stopped  at 
half-cock,  and  did  not   go   oflF.     Most   of  tho  men  by  this  time 
had  changed  their  positions,  and  my  father  was  left  standing 
almost  alone.     He  made  up  his  mind,  however,  not  to  leave  till 
he  had  fired  his  gun.     He  re-cocked  it,  took  aim  again,  pulled 
the  trigger  and  fired.     He  then  took   his  place  in  the  regiment, 
and  after  one  or  two  more  volleys,  the  Hessians  retreated  in 
disorder.     On    reaching   their   position,   the  regiment  pitched 
their  tents  and  encamped.    My   father  occupied   a  tent  with 
Colonel  Latimer,  and  at  night,  when  the  colonel  pulled  off  his 
boots  to  turn  in,  a  bullet  dropped  from  one  of  them  on  the 
ground.     This  led  to  an  examination,  and  they  soon  found  that 
his  coat  which  had  long  pocket-flaps,  reaching  down  on  his  legs, 
had  a  bullet  hole  through  one  of  the  pockets.     In  that  pocket, 
the  colonel  had  a  large  pocket-book  quite  filled  with  papers, 
and   among   them   his   colonel's  commission.     The  bullet  had 
passed  through  this  pocket-book,  and   was  thus  so  deadened  in 
its  force,  that  on  reaching  the   colonel's  person  it  made  only  a 
slight  indentation  in  the  skin  and  dropped   down  into  his  boot. 
This  served  to  explain  the  hurried  manner  of  slapping  his  thigh 
with  his  hand  when  the  first  fire  of  the  Hessians  was  received. 
The  slight  twinge  whjch  the  bullet  gave  him  was  immediately 
forgotten  in  the  excitement  of  the  occasion.     The  commission 
was  folded  as  it  lay   in   the  pocket-book,   and  when  opened,  it 
showed  seven  bullet   holes  through   it.     My  father  always  al- 
luded to  that  commission  as  one  that  a  soldier  would  prize. 

I  would  like  also  to  say  something  of  the  march  of  my  father's 
regiment  towards  Albany  the  day  after  the  surrender,  and  the 
crossing  of  "  the  Sprouts  "  of  the  Mohawk  —  the  lateness  of  the 
hour  forbids. 

Allusion  has  been  made  to  some  of  the  battle-fields  famous  in 


THE  Surrender  of  Burqoyne. 


99 


the  world's  history,  and  this  is  surely  worthy  of  mention  in  that 
connection.  Dr.  Johnson  said  that  man  was  little  to  be  envied 
whose  patriotism  did  not  grow  warmer  on  the  plain  of  Mara- 
thon. There  certainly  can  be  no  man  with  an  American  hea-t 
in  his  bosom,  whose  patriotism  is  not  warmed  into  a  fervid  glow 
on  this  plain  of  Saratoga. 

After  the  reading  of  the  poem  the  president  of  the  day  closed 
the  exercises  as  follows  : 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen  :  The  commemorative  exercises  of 
to-day  are  over.  Our  first  centennial  celebration  has  been 
made  a  magnificent  success  by  the  eloquence  of  our  speakers 
and  the  golden  sunshine  with  which  we  have  been  favored.  It 
becomes  ray  duty  now  to  adjourn  this  meeting  for  one  hundred 
years. 


s  famous  in 


'i 


100 


Centennial  Celebration  op 


ii 


EXERCISES  AT  THE  NOKTII  STAND.  HON.  GEORGE 
W.  SCHUYLER  {in  the  absence  of  E.  H.  BULLARD)  PRE- 
SIDING. 

PiiAYEB  BY  Rev.  Joseph  E.  Kino,  D.D.,  of  Fort  Edwakd,  N.  Y. 
Lord  God  of  nations,  our  father's  God,  and  ours,  we  reverently  and 
humbly  vvorahip  Thee,  and  gratefully  acknowledge  Thee  as  the  giver  of 
all  good.  We  bless  Thee  devoutly,  that  Thou  hast  been  benignly  present 
in  all  the  history  of  our  country.  We  bless  Thee  for  the  heroic  race  of 
wise  and  patriotic  men,  whose  self-sacrificing  and  successful  exertions  to 
found  an  independent  nation,  we  are  met  to  commemorate,  on  tliis  au- 
spicious day.  We  bless  Thee,  also,  for  the  discreet  and  godly  and  pa- 
triotic women  of  that  time,  worthy  to  be  the  motliers  and  wives  and 
daughters  of  the  men  who  vindicated  by  their  counsels  and  their  arms,  the 
right  of  our  infant  republic,  to  take  its  place  among  the  nations  of  the 
,  V ;  ».0rtl»'  Bless  us,  with  thy  presence,  who  unite  in  these  memorial  services, 
(?^p«pire  the  people  of  this  historic  valley,  with  noble  purposes  and  make 
*I8  worthy  of  our  ancestors.  Vouchsafe  thy  blessing  to  this  common- 
wealth and  its  chief,  under  whose  protection  we  are  met.  Bless  the 
president  of  the  United  States  and  all  the  states  whicii  are  clustered 
under  that  banner  which  was  unfurled  in  victory  here  one  hundred  years 
ago.  Let  this  nation  live  !  O,  let  it  not  be,  that  the  people  whom  the 
mightiest  monarchy  could  not  subjugate,  whom  the  most  appalling  civil 
war  could  not  divide,  should,  after  all,  fall  a  victim  to  political  corruption 
and  to  the  weakness  and  wickedness  of  intemperance.  O  impart  to  us 
that  righteousness  which  alone  exaltelh  a  nation.  Grant  us,  this  our 
prayer,  O  God,  with  the  pardon  of  our  sins,  we  humbly  beseech  Thee 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.     Amen.    . 


INTRODUCTORY  ADDRESS    OF  HON.    GEORGE   W. 
SCHUYLER,  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  DAY. 

One  hundred  years  ago  General  Burgoyne,  at  the  head  of  a 
large  and  well  appointed  army,  on  these  grounds,  surrendered 
to  the  undisciplined  forces  of  a  few  millions  of  people  just 
struggling  into  national  existence.  It  is  only  aatural  that  we 
should  forget  the  event  for  a  moment,  and  enquire  as  to  the 
actors  in  the  drama.  Standing  upon  the  ground  where  the 
surrender  was  made  we  look  into  the  past.  We  see  the  English 
general  with  well  disciplined  legions  and  savage  allies  sweeping 
through  the  northern  lakes  and  down  through  the  valley  of  the 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


101 


Hudson,  driving  the  little  army  of  the  republic  from  post  to 
|)08t.  In  their  front  we  see  the  iirmy  of  citizen  soldiers,  few  in 
number  ;  without  uniform,  without  supplies,  almost  without 
arms,  disputing  the  way  step  by  step,  until  recruited  from  the 
farms  and  workshops  of  New  England  and  New  York,  with  a 
Spartan  band  from  the  sunny  South,  they  take  position  on 
the  heights  of  Saratoga,  and  stay  the  onward  progress  of  the 
enemy. 

We  see  the  armies  preparing  for  the  contest  —  there  the 
English  regiments,  and  their  German  mercenaries,  with  Canadians 
and  Indians  on  their  flanks  —  here  the  patriot  army  unused  to 
anus,  but  self  reliant  and  hopeful. 

We  see  the  form  of  General  Gates  at  the  door  of  his  tent,  at 
a  safe  distance  from  the  scene  of  conflict,  sending  by  messengers 
his  orders  to  his  ofticers  in  the  field.  We  see  the  fiery  Arnold 
at  the  head  of  his  command  charging  furiously  —  the  brave  and 
prudent  Lincoln  leading  his  men  into  ti.e  deadly  strife  —  the 
lion-hearted  Morgan  with  his  southern  riflemen  raining  deadly 
fire  on  the  enemy's  wavering  ranks  —  we  see  thousands  of  noble 
lieroes  intent  upon  victory  or  death. 

Still  gazing  back  off  to  the  left,  up  the  valley  of  the  Mohawk, 
we  behold  the  dying  Herkimer  with  his  patriot  band  within  the 
toils  of  Butler's  tories  and  Indian  allies  at  Oriskany  —  we  see 
the  gallant  Gansevoort  at  Fort  Schuyler  sending  word  to  St. 
Lcger  and  his  beleaguering  hosts,  "  we  will  hold  the  fort  or 
die," — and  near  by  we  see  Hons  Yost  (termed  the  half-witted) 
and  one  Indian  companion,  warily  threading  their  way  through 
the  forest  alone  to  raise  the  seige,  and  relieve  the  half  starved 
garrison. 

Still  backward,  off  to  the  right,  among  the  green  hills  of  Ver- 
nioi't,  our  gaze  rests  upon  the  manly  form  of  the  modest  and 
determined  Stark.  Surrounded  with  his  hardy  neighbors  they 
are  rejoicing  in  victory  over  the  cohorts  of  General  Baum. 

But  among  the  hosts  of  brave  and  gallant  men  there  is  one 
that  fixes  our  gazing  eyes.  In  citizen's  dress,  quiet,  dignified, 
earnest,  he  looks,  as  he  is,  the  hero.  Pardon  me,  fellow  citizens, 
while  we  take  a  longer  look  at  this  one  than  at  the  others. 

14 


102 


Centennial  Celebration  op 


Fatherless,  in  his  boyhood  he  assumed  the  place  of  a  father 
in  his  dead  father's  family.  Reserved  and  silent,  in  early  youtli 
he  began  the  battle  of  life.  In  early  manhood  his  business  j)ur- 
suits  associate  him  with  an  English  officer  with  whom  against 
the  French  of  Canada  he  acquires  some  knowledge  of  war.  In 
later  years  we  see  him  as  a  legislator  contending  tor  the  rights 
of  the  people  against  the  abuses  of  arbitrary  power.  We  see 
him  sacrificing  social  position  and  the  friendsliips  of  years,  and 
voting  for  the  right,  sometimes  alone. 

Later  the  congress  place  him  in  command  of  the  northern 
department  with  the  rank  of  major-general.  He  knows  the 
difficulties  of  the  2)Osition  with  no  army,  no  arms,  no  supplies, 
no  money,  no  credit.  But  his  patriotism  will  not  allow  him  to 
decline,  and  he  accepts  the  trust  with  all  its  responsibilities.  In 
the  department  of  the  north  were  included  the  upper  valley  of 
the  Hudson,  the  Lakes  George  and  Champlain  with  the  con- 
tiguous territory  stretching  through  the  wilderness  to  Canada  ; 
and  the  valley  of  the  Mohawk  with  the  almost  unknown  country 
beyond  to  the  great  lakes.  These  had  been  the  great  highway 
through  which  the  French  for  more  than  a  century  had  led  their 
armies  to  devastate  the  outlying  settlements,  and,  if  possible,  to 
capture  Albany,  thus  giving  them  control  of  the  territory  west 
of  the  Hudson.  Through  these  valleys  it  was  believed  the  En- 
glish would  now  seek  to  lead  their  armies,  gain  possession  of 
Albany  and  the  lower  Hudson,  thus  sundering  the  colonies  and 
making  it  easy  to  subdue  the  patriots  in  detail.  In  anticipation 
of  these  designs  the  northern  general  organized  a  force  for  the 
invasion  of  Canada,  and  by  conquering  that  province  securely 
close  the  gates  through  which  our  state  might  be  attacked. 
He  successfully  opposed  the  influence  of  Sir  William  Johnson 
and  his  numerous  tory  adherents,  organized  the  patriots,  and 
placed  the  valley  of  the  Mohawk  in  a  position  of  defence.  He 
procured  arms  and  supplies  for  the  troops,  pledging  therefor  hi.s 
personal  responsibility  and  his  private  fortune.  His  small  army 
under  the  command  of  an  able  general  penetrates  the  enemy's 
country,  capturing  their  forts  and  strong  positions  until  before 
the  walls  of  Quebec  the  gallant  Montgomery  fell,  when  the  tide 
of  success  is  turned. 


TnE  Surrender  of  Burooyne. 


103 


In  tlu;  following  year  he  is  confronted  by  a  large  and  well 
;i|tj)ointed  artny,  before  whom  liis  handfiill  of  men  is  forced  to 
retreat  out  of  Canada  through  tile  lakes,  down  to  the  Hudson. 
Another  arrny  com|)osed  of  regulars,  Canadians,  tories  and 
Indians,  inarches  from  Oswego  to  the  u)»i)er  valley  of  the  Mo- 
hawk, and  lay  siege  to  Kort  Schuyler,  the  oidy  obstacle  between 
them  and  Albany. 

Our  general  has  not  yet  an  army  sufficiently  strong  to  meet 
aud  resist  tliis  double  invasion.  lie  is  witliout  supplies  or 
money.  Congress  fails  to  render  efficient  suj)i)ort.  There  is 
disaffection  in  the  ranks,  and  cohUiess  anu)ng  the  people.  But 
he  is  not  dismayed,  lie  is  still  hopeful  and  pleads  for  assistance. 
Forced  to  retreat,  step  by  step  lie  obstructs  and  delays  the  ad- 
vance of  the  enemy,  gaining  the  needed  time  for  reinforcements 
to  join  him.  At  last  reaching  a  strong  defensible  j)osition,  with 
an  army  reunited  in  numbers  and  courage,  he  prejiared  for  bat- 
tle. He  saw  his  enemy  far  from  his  base  of  supplies,  his  num- 
bers depleted  by  battles  and  desertions,  his  line  of  retreat  cut 
off,  and  he  knew  that  with  a  well  delivered  blow  he  must  sub- 
mit to  capture.  But  when  about  to  strike,  his  arm  was  arrested. 
His  domestic  foes  had  proved  more  powerful  than  hostile  armies, 
and  had  prevailed  on  congress  to  remove  him  from  command. 
Another  takes  his  place,  who,  almost  against  his  will,  delivers 
the  battle  already  prepared,  and  is  crowned  with  the  glory  be- 
longing to  another. 

Although  wronged  and  insulted,  his  love  of  country  did  not 
grow  cold.  His  advice  and  services  still  sought  were  rendered 
cheerfully.  He  encouraged  his  friends  in  the  army,  and  when 
tlie  victory  was  won,  he  rejoiced  with  perfect  satisfaction. 
Standing  on  the  neighboring  heights,  he  witnessed  the  destruc- 
tion of  his  mills  and  manufactories,  of  his  houses  and  barns,  of 
his  crops  and  orchards,  by  the  defeated  and  fleeing  enemy,  and 
called  it  "  the  fortune  of  war."  In  his  tent  he  received  the  wid- 
ows and  orphans  of  enemies  slain  in  battle,  soothing  their  sorrows 
and  supplying  their  wants.  In  his  own  house  in  the  city  he 
gave  asylum  to  the  captive  general  and  his  officers,  winning 
their  sympathies  for  his  oppressed  and  struggling  people. 


104 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


He  saw  the  rewards  of  his  own  personal  labor  and  sacrifices 
bestowed  upon  another.  He  saw  the  crown  prepared  for  him- 
self placed  upon  the  brow  of  an  alien.  He  endured  detraction 
and  reproach.  But  his  love  for  the  cause  never  failed.  Free- 
dom from  the  yoke  of  England  became  a  passion  which  no  flat- 
tery could  soothe,  no  wrong  extinguish. 

The  memory  of  General  Philip  Schuyler  needs  no  eulogy  from 
one  who  bears  his  name,  and  in  whose  veins  there  is  only  a  trace 
of  collateral  blood.  History  will  yet  do  him  justice.  Posterity 
will  crown  him  the  Hero  of  Saratoga.  The  nation  will  recog- 
nize him  as  the  genei-al  who  prepared  the  battle  which  won  our 
freedom. 


WILLIAM  L.  STONE'S  HISTORICAL  ADDRESS. 

The  battles  of  the  lOth  of  September  and  the  7th  of  October, 
were  so  fully  described  at  the  IJemis's  Heights  celebration,  that 
I  pass  at  once  to  the  occurrences  succeeding  that  event  and  im- 
mediately preceding  the  surrender.  . 

On  the  morning  of  the  day  succeeding  the  action  of  the  7th 
of  October,  Burgoyne,  before  daybreak,  left  his  position,  now 
utterly  untenable,  and  defiled  on  to  the  meadows  by  the  river 
(Wilbui''s  basin)  where  were  his  supply  trains  :  but  was  obliged 
to  delay  his  retreat  until  the  evening,  because  his  hospital  could 
not  be  sooner'removed.  He  wished  also  to  avail  himself  of  the 
darkness.  The  Americans  immediately  moved  forward,  and 
took  possession  of  the  abandoned  </amp.  Burgoyne  having 
concentrated  his  force  upon  some  heights,  which  were  strong 
by  nature,  and  covered  by  a  ravine  running  parallel  with  the 
intrenchments  of  his  late  camp,  a  random  fire  of  artillery  and 
small-arms  was  kept  up  through  the  day,  particularly  on  the  i)art 
of  the  German  chasseurs  and  the  provincials.  These,  stationed 
in  coverts  of  the  ravine,  kept  up  an  annoying  fire  upon  every 
one  crossing  their  line  of  vision,  and  it  was  by  a  shot  from  one 
of  these  lurking  parties  that  General  Lincoln  received  a  severe 
wound  in  the  leg  while  riding  near  the  line.  It  was  evident  from 
the  movements  of  the  British  that  they  were  preparing  to  re- 
trofit ;  but  the  American  troops,  having,  in  the  delirium  of  joy 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


105 


consequent  upon  their  victory,  neglected  to  draw  and  eat  their 
rations  —  being  withal  not  a  little  fatigued  with  the  two  days' 
exertions,  fell  back  to  their  camp,  which  had  been  left  standing 
in  the  morning.  Retreat  was,  indeed,  the  only  alternative  left 
to  the  British  commander,  since  it  was  not  quite  certain  that  he 
could  not  cut  his  way  through  the  American  army,  and  his  sup- 
plies were  reduced  to  a  short  allowance  for  five  days. 

Meanwhile,  in  addition  to  the  chagrin  of  defeat,  a  deep  gloom 
pervaded  the  British  camp.  The  gallant  and  beloved  Fraser  — 
the  life  and  soul  of  the  army  ^  lay  dying  in  the  little  house  on 
the  river  bank  occupied  by  Baroness  Riedesel.  That  lady  has 
described  this  scene  with  such  unaffected  pathos  that  we  give  it 
in  her  own  words,  simply  premising  that  on  the  previous  day 
she  had  expected  Burgoyne,  Phillips,  and  Fraser  to  dine  with 
her  after  their  return  from  the  reconnaissance.     She  says  : 

"  About  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  instead  of  the  guests 
who  were  to  have  dined  with  us,  they  brought  into  me  upon  a 
litt*^''  poor  General  Frasej",  mortally  wounded.  Our  dining 
table,  which  was  already  spread,  was  taken  away,  and  in  its 
place  they  fixed  up  a  bed  for  the  general.  I  sat  in  a  corner  of 
the  room,  trembling  and  quaking.  The  noises  grew  continually 
louder.  The  thought  that  they  might  bring  in  my  husband  in 
the  same  manner  was  to  me  dreadful,  and  tormented  me  inces- 
santly. The  general  said  to  the  surgeon,  '  Do  not  conceal  any 
thing  from  me.  Must  I  die  ?'  The  bail  had  gone  through  his 
bowels  precisely  as  in  the  case  of  Major  Harnage.  Unfortunately, 
however,  the  general  had  eaten  a  hearty  breakfast,  by  reason 
of  which  the  intestines  were  distended,  and  the  ball  had  gone 
through  them.  I  heard  him  often,  amidst  his  groans,  exclaim, 
'O  fatal  ambition!  Poor  General  Burgoyne!  INIy  poor  wife!' 
Prayers  were  read  to  him.  He  then  sent  a  message  to  General 
Burgoyne,  begging  that  he  would  have  him  burled  the  follow- 
ing day  at  six  o'clock  in  the  evening,  on  the  top  of  a  hill  which 
was  a  sort  of  a  redoubt.  I  knew  no  longer  which  way  to  turn. 
The  whole  tntry  was  filled  with  the  sick,  who  were  suffering 
with  the  canij)  sickness  —  a  kind  of  dysentery.  I  spent  the  night 
in  this  manner  :  at  one  time  comforting  Lady  Ackland,  whose 


4i 


106 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


husband  was  wounded  and  a  prisoner,  and  at  another  looking 
after  my  children,  whom  I  had  put  to  bed.  As  for  myself,  I 
could  not  go  to  sleep,  as  I  had  General  Fraser  and  all  the  other 
gentlemen  in  my  room,  and  was  constantly  afraid  that  my 
children  would  wake  up  and  cry,  and  thus  disturb  the  poor 
dying  man,  who  often  sent  to  beg  my  j)ardon  for  making  me 
so  much  trouble.  About  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  they  told 
me  that  he  could  not  last  much  longer.  I  had  desired  to  be 
apprised  of  the  approach  of  this  moment.  I  accordingly  wrapped 
up  the  children  in  the  coverings,  and  went  with  them  into  the 
entry.     Early  in  the  morning,  at  eight  o'clock,  he  died. ' 

"  After  they  had  wa>:hed  the  corpse,  they  wrapped  it  in  a 
sheet  and  laid  it  on  a  bedstead.  We  then  again  came  into  the 
room,  and  had  this  sad  sight  before  us  the  whole  day.  At 
every  instant,  also,  wounded  officers  of  my  acquaintance  ar- 
rived, and  the  cannonade  again  began.  A  retreat  was  spoken 
of,  but  there  was  not  the  least  movement  made  toward  it. 
About  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  I  saw  the  new  house  which 
had  been  built  for  me,  in  flames  ;  the  enemy,  therefore,  were 
not  far  from  us.  We  learned  that  General  Burgoyne  intended 
to  fulfill  the  last  wish  of  General  Fraser,  and  to  have  him  buried 
at  six  o'clock  in  the  place  designated  by  him.  This  occasioned 
an  unnecessary  delay,  to  which  a  part  of  the  misfortunes  of  the 
army  was  owing. 

"  Precisely  at  six  o'clock  the  corpse  was  brought  out,  and  we 
saw  the  entire  body  of  generals  with  their  retinues  assisting  at 
the  obsequies.  The  English  chaplain,  Mr.  Brudenell,  performed 
the  funeral  services.     The  cannon-balls  flew  continually  around 


'  General  Fraser  belonged  to  the  house  of  Lovntt,  whose  family  name  was  Fraser. 
The  Earl  of  Lovatt  was  oiie  of  the  noblemen  who  were  coniproniUed  by  the  rebellion  of 
the  last  Stuart  pretender,  and  whose  fortunes  were  mined  at  the  battle  of  CuUoden,  in 
1745.  General  Kraser,  ii  seion  ol  the  houi'C,  of  a  sanguine  temperament,  ardent  nnd 
ambitious,  entered  the  army,  and  became  so  diKtiiiyuUhed  for  his  military  ability  as  to 
be  advanced  to  the  rank  ol  briffadier-ijetieral,  and  was  selected  for  a  command  in  Bur- 
Royiie's  expedition.  lie  had  received  intimations  that,  if  the  enterprise  were  successful, 
the  t;''"i-'rninent  would  revoke  the  act  of  attainder,  and  restore  to  him  the  family  title 
and  estates.  With  a  knowledge  of  these  facts,  it  is  easy  to  uiid<'istand  the  meaning  of 
the  wounded  general's  exeliiinations  as  he  lay  waiting  for  dealli  in  t*e  little  "Taylor 
Farm-house"  — the  tirst  aihiding  to  tlio  sad  extinction  of  his  own  cherished  hopes  of 
well  earned  position  and  renown,  the  second  betraying  his  anxiety  for  his  commander, 
whose  impending  disgrace  he  clearly  foresaw. 


vanced 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


107 


and  over  the  party.  The  American  general,  Gates,  afterwards 
said  that  if  he  had  known  that  it  was  a  burial,  he  would  not 
hav.'  allowed  any  tiring  in  that  direction.  Many  cannon-balls 
also  flew  not  far  from  me,  but  I  had  my  eyes  fixed  upon  the 
hill,  where  I  distinctly  saw  ray  husband  in  the  midst  of  the 
enemy's  fire,  and  therefore  I  could  not  think  of  my  own  dan- 
ger." "  Certainly,"  says  General  liiedesel,  in  his  joarnal,  "  it 
was  a  real  military  funeral  —  one  that  was  unique  of  its  kind." 

General  Burgoyne  has  himself  described  this  funeral  with  his 
usual  eloquence  and  felicity  of  expression  :  "  The  incessant 
cannonade  during  the  solemnity  ;  the  steady  attitude  and  unal- 
tered voice  with  which  the  chaplain  ofliciated,  though  frequently 
covered  with  dust,  which  the  shot  threw  up  on  all  sides  of  him  ; 
the  mute  but  expressive  mixture  of  sensibility  and  indignation 
upon  every  countenance  —  these  objects  will  remain  to  the  last 
of  life  upon  the  mind  of  every  man  who  was  present.  The 
growing  duskiness  added  to  the  scenery,  and  the  whole  marked 
a  character  of  that  juncture  that  would  make  one  of  the  finest 
subjects  for  the  pencil  of  a  master  that  the  field  ever  exhibited. 
To  the  canvas,  and  to  the  faithful  page  of  a  more  important 
historian,  gallant  friend  !  I  consign  thy  memory.  There  may 
thy  talents,  thy  manly  virtues,  their  progress  and  their  period, 
find  due  distinction  ;  and  long  may  they  survive,  long  after  the 
frail  record  of  my  pen  shall  be  forgotten  !" 

As  soon  as  the  funeral  services  were  finished  and  the  grave 
closed,  an  order  was  issued  that  the  army  should  retreat  as  soon 
!is  darkness  had  set  in  ;  and  the  commander  who,  in  the  begin- 
ning of  the  campaign,  had  vauntingly  uttered  in  general  orders 
that  memorable  sentiment,  "  Britons  never  go  back,"  was  now 
compelled  to  steal  away  in  the  night,  leaving  his  hospital,  con- 
taining upward  of  four  hundred  sick  and  wounded,  to  the  mercy 
of  a  victorious  and  hitherto  despised  enemy.  Gates  in  this,  as 
in  all  other  instances,  extended  to  his  adversary  the  greatest 
humanity. 

The  army  began  its  retrograde  movement  at  nine  o'clock  on 
the  evening  of  the  8th,  in  the  midst  of  a  pouring  rain,  liiedesel 
loading  the  van,  and  Phillips  bringing  up  the  rear  with  the  ad- 
vanced corps. 


M 


108 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


In  this  retreat  the  same  lack  of  judgment  on  the  part  of  Bur- 
goyne  is  apparent.  Had  that  general,  as  Riedesel  and  Phillips 
advised,  fallen  immediately  back  across  the  Hudson,  and  taken 
up  his  former  position  behind  the  Batten  kil,  not  only  would  his 
communications  with  Lake  George  and  Canada  have  been  re- 
stored, but  he  could  at  his  leisure  have  awaited  the  movements 
of  Clinton.  Burgoyne,  however,  having  arrived  at  Dovogat 
two  hours  before  daybreak  on  the  morning  of  the  9th,  gave  the 
order  to  halt,  greatly  to  the  surprise  of  his  whole  army.  "Every 
one,"  says  the  journal  of  Reidesel,  "  was,  notwithstanding,  even 
then  of  the  opinion  that  the  army  would  make  but  a  short  stand, 
merely  for  its  better  concentration,  as  all  saw  that  haste  was  of 
the  utmost  necessity,  if  thcj-  would  get  out  of  a  dangerous 
trap."  At  this  time  the  heights  of  Saratoga,  commanding  the 
ford  across  Fish  creek,  were  not  yet  occupied  by  the  Americans 
in  force,  and  up  to  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  retreating 
army  might  easily  have  reached  that  place  and  thrown  a  bridge 
across  the  Hudson.  General  Fellows,  who  by  the  orders  of 
Gates,  occupied  the  heights  at  Saratoga  opposite  the  ford,  was 
in  an  extremely  critical  situation.  On  the  night  of  the  8th, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Southerland,  who  had  been  sent  forward  to 
reconnoitre,  crossed  Fish  creek,  and,  guided  by  General  Fel- 
lows'sfire,found  his  camp  so  entirely  unguarded  that  he  marched 
around  it  without  being  hailed.  He  then  returned,  and  report- 
ing to  Burgoyne,  entreated  permission  to  attack  Fellows  with 
his  regiment,  but  was  refused.  "  Had  not  Burgoyne  halted  at 
Dovogat,"  says  Wilkinson,  "  he  must  have  reached  Saratoga 
before  day,  in  which  case  Fellows  would  have  been  cut  up  and 
captured  or  dispersed,  and  Burgoyne's  retreat  to  Fort  George 
would  have  been  unobstructed.  As  it  was,  however,  Burgoyne's 
army  reached  Saratoga  just  as  the  rear  of  our  militia  were  as- 
cending the  opposite  bank  of  the  Hudson,  where  they  took  post 
and  prevented  its  passage."  Burgoyne,  however,  although 
within  half  an  hour's  march  of  Saratoga,  gave  the  surprising 
order  that  "  the  army  should  bivouac  in  two  lines  and  await 
the  day." 

Mr.  Bancroft  ascribes  this  delay  to  the  fact  that  Burgoyne 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


109 


was  still  clogged  with  his  artillery  and  baggage,  and  that  the 
night  was  dark,  and  the  road  weakened  by  rain."  But  according 
to  the  universal  testimony  of  all  the  nnanuscript  journals  extant, 
the  road,  which  up  to  this  time  was  sufficiently  strong  for  the 
passage  of  the  baggage  and  artillery  trains,  became,  during  the 
halt,  so  bad  by  the  continued  rain  that  when  the  army  again 
moved,  at  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  it  was  obliged  to  leave 
behind  the  tents  and  camp  equipage,  which  fell  most  oppor- 
tunely into  the  hands  of  the  Americans.  Aside,  however,  from 
this,  it  is  a  matter  of  record  that  the  men,  through  their  officers, 
pleaded  with  Burgoyne  to  be  allowed  to  proceed  notwithstand- 
ing the  storm  and  darkness,  while  the  officers  themselves  pro- 
nounced the  delay  "  madness."  But  whatever.were  the  motives 
of  the  English  general,  this  delay  lost  him  his  army,  and,  per- 
haps, the  British  crown  her  American  colonies. 

During  the  halt  at  Dovogat's  there  occurred  one  of  those 
incidents  which  relieve  with  fairer  lights  and  softer  tints  the 
gloomy  picture  of  war.  Lady  Harriet  Ackland  had,  like  the 
Baroness  Kiedesel,  accompanied  her  husband  to  America,  and 
gladly  shared  with  him  the  vicissitudes  of  campaign  life. 
Major  Ackland  was  a  rough,  blunt  man,  but  a  gallant  soldier 
and  devoted  husband,  and  she  loved  him  dearly.  Ever  since 
he  had  been  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  his  wife  had  been 
greatly  distressed,  and  it  had  required  all  the  comforting  atten- 
tions of  the  baroness  to  reassure  her.  As  soon  as  the  army 
halted,  by  the  advice  of  the  latter  she  determined  to  visit  the 
American  camp  and  implore  the  permission  of  its  commander 
to  join  her  husband,  and  by  her  presence  alleviate  his  sufferings. 
Accordingly,  on  the  9th,  she  requested  permission  of  Burgoyne 
to  depart.  "  Though  I  was  ready  to  believe,"  says  that  general, 
"  that  patience  and  fortitude  in  a  suj^reme  degree  were  to  be 
found,  as  well  as  every  other  virtue,  under  the  most  tender 
forms,  I  was  astonished  at  this  proposal.  After  so  long  an 
agitation  of  spirits,  exhausted  not  only  for  want  of  rest,  but 
absolutely  want  of  food,  drenched  in  rains  for  twelve  hours 
together,  that  a  woman  should  be  capable  of  such  an  undertak- 
ing and  delivering  herself  to  an  enemy,  probably  in  the  night, 

15 


no 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


and  uncertain  of  what  hands  she  might  fall  into,  appeared  an 
effort  above  human  nature.  The  assistance  I  Avas  enabled  to 
give  was  small  indeed.  All  I  could  furnish  to  her  was  an  open 
boat,  and  a  few  lines,  written  upon  dirty  wet  paper,  to  General 
Gates,  recommending  her  to  his  protection." 

In  the  midst  of  a  driving  autumnal  storm,  Lady  Ackland  set 
out  at  dusk,  in  an  open  boat,  for  the  American  camp,  accom- 
panied by  Mr.  Brudenell  the  chaplain,  her  waiting-maid,  and 
her  husband's  valet.  At  ten  o'clock  they  reached  the  American 
advanced  guard,  under  the  command  of  Major  Henry  Dearborn. 
Lady  Ackland  herself  hailed  the  sentinel,  and  as  soon  as  the 
bateau  struck  the  shore,  the  party  were  immediately  conveyed 
into  the  log-cabin  of  the  major,  who  had  been  ordered  to  detain 
the  flag  until  the  morning,  the  night  being  exceedingly  dark, 
and  the  quality  of  the  lady  unknown.  Major  Dearborn  gal- 
lantly gave  up  his  room  to  his  guest,  a  fire  was  kindled,  and  a 
cup  of  tea  provided,  and  as  soon  as  Lady  Ackland  made  herself 
known,  her  mind  was  relieved  from  its  anxiety  by  the  assurance 
of  her  husband's  safety.  "  I  visited,"  says  \djutant-General 
Wilkinson,  "  the  guard  before  sunrise.  Lady  Ackland's  boat 
had  put  off,  and  was  floating  down  the  stream  to  our  camp, 
where  General  Gates,  whose  gallantry  will  not  be  denied,  stood 
ready  to  receive  her  with  all  the  tenderness  and  respect  to  which 
her  rank  and  condition  gave  her  a  claim.  Indeed,  the  feminine 
figure,  the  benign  aspect,  and  polished  manners  of  this  charming 
woman  were  alone  suflicient  to  attract  the  sympathy  of  the  most 
obdurate  ;  but  if  another  motive  could  have  been  wanting  to 
inspire  respect,  it  was  furnished  by  the  peculiar  circumstances 
of  Lady  Harriet,  then  in  that  most  delicate  situation  which  can 
not  fail  to  interest  the  solicitudes  of  every  being  possessing  the 
form  and  feelings  of  a  man."  ' 

On  the  evening  of  the  9th  the  main  ])ortion  of  the  drenched 
and  weary  army  forded  Fish  creek,  waist  deep,  and  bivouacked 


»  The  kindness  which  had  been  shown  to  hi^'  wife  Major  Acklnnd  reciprocated,  while 
on  a  parole  in  New  York,  by  doiiiprall  in  his  power  to  mitij^ate  the  snfTerings  of  the  Ame- 
rican prisoners.  His  end  was  particularly  sad.  On  his  ■•etiirn  to  England  hu  was  killed 
in  a  duel  tu  which  he  had  been  challenged  for  having  warmly  deleuded  American  courage 
against  the  aspersions  of  a  brother  ofUcer. 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


Ill 


in  a  wretched  position  in  the  open  air  on  thr  opposite  bank. 
Burgoyne  ronmined  on  the  south  side  of  the  creek,  with  Hamil- 
ton s  brigade  as  a  guard,  and  passed  the  niglit  in  the  mansion 
of  General  Schuyler.  The  officers  slept  on  the  ground,  with  no 
other  covering  than  oil-cloth.  Nor  did  their  wives  fare  better. 
"I  was  wet,"  says  the  Baroness Riodesel,  "through  and  through 
by  the  frequent  rains,  and  was  obliged  to  remain  in  this  con- 
dition the  entire  night,  as  I  had  no  place  whatever  where  I  could 
change  my  linen.  I  therefore  seated  myself  before  a  good  fire 
and  undressed  my  children,  after  wliich  we  laid  down  together 
upon  some  straw.  I  asked  General  Phillips,  who  came  up  to 
where  we  were,  why  we  did  not  continue  our  retreat  while  there 
was  yet  time,  as  my  husband  had  pledged  himself  to  cover  it 
and  bring  the  army  through.  'Poor  woman,'  answered  he,  '  I 
am  amazed  at  you.  Completely  wet  through,  have  you  still  the 
courage  to  wish  to  go  further  in  this  weather  ?  Would  that  you 
were  our  commanding  general  !  He  halts  because  he  is  tired, 
and  intends  to  spend  the  night  here,  and  give  us  a  supper."  ' 
Burgoyne,  however,  would  not  think  of  a  further  advance  that 
night ;  and  while  riis  army  were  suffering  from  cold  and  hunger, 
and  every  one  was  looking  forward  to  the  immediate  future  with 
apprehension,  "the  illuminated  mansion  of  General  Schuyler," 
says  the  Brunswick  Journal,  "  rang  with  singing,  laughter,  and 
the  jingling  of  glasses.  There  Burgoyne  was  sitting  with  some 
merry  companions  at  a  dainty  supper,  while  the  champagne  was 
flowing.  Near  him  sat  the  beautiful  wife  of  an  English  com- 
missary, his  mistress.'  Great  as  the  calamity  was,  the  frivolous 
general  still  kept  up  his  orgies.  Some  were  even  of  opinion  that 
he  had  merely  made  that  inexcusable  stand  for  the  sake  of 
passing  a  merry  night.  Hiedesel  thought  it  his  duty  to  remind 
his  general  of  the  danger  of  the  halt,  but  the  lattei'  returned  all 


>  V/ere  this  statement  mnde  by  the  Baroncps  Ricdcpcl  alone,  and  not  by  the  Bninewick 
Joiininl,  it  would  bo  ncceesnry  to  rccolvc  it  witli  caution,  since  lier  prejuvlicus  often 
curried  liur  uiiinluntionally  into  extremes.  Mr.  Fonblanque,  however,  in  liln  admirable 
Life  and  Correspondence  of  General  Burgoyne,  admits  tliis  by  implication,  but  seeks  to 
leave  the  impression  that  ihe  champagne  and  the  "flirtation,"  as  he  calls  It,  were  In- 
dulged In  to  relieve  the  mental  ai,'ony  consequent  upon  Ills  defeat.  Mr.  Fonblimquu's 
book  is  characterized  by  great  fairness  and  liberality  of  tone  —  a  circumstance  which  must 
commend  it  to  the  American  reader. 


112 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


sorts  of  evasive  answers."  This  statement  is  corroborated  by 
the  Baroness  Riedesel,  who  also  adds  :  "  The  following  day 
General  Burgoyne  rei)aid  the  hospitable  shelter  of  the  Scliuyler 
mansion  by  burning  it,  with  its  valuable  barns  and  mills,  to  the 
ground,  under  pretense  that  he  might  be  better  able  to  cover 
his  retreat,  but  others  say  out  of  mean  revenge  on  the  American 
general." 

But  the  golden  moment  had  fled.  On  the  following  morning, 
the  10th,  it  was  discovered  that  the  Americans,  under  Fellows, 
were  in  possession  of  the  Batten  kil,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
Hudson  ;  and  Burgoyne,  considering  it  too  hazardous  to  attempt 
the  passage  of  the  river,  ordered  the  army  to  occupy  the  same 
quarters  on  the  heights  of  Saratoga  which  they  had  used  on 
first  crossing  the  river  on  the  13th  of  September.  At  the  same 
time  he  sent  ahead  a  working  party  to  open  a  road  to  Fort 
Edward,  his  intention  being  to  continue  his  retreat  along  the 
west  bank  of  the  Hudson  to  the  front  of  that  fort,  force  a  passage 
across,  and  take  possession  of  the  post.  Colonel  Cochran, 
however,  had  already  garrisoned  it  with  two  hundred  men,  and 
the  detachment  hastily  fell  back  upon  the  camp. 

Meanwhile  Genenal  Gates,  who  had  begun  the  pursuit  at  noon 
of  the  10th  with  his  main  army,  reached  the  high  ground  south 
of  Fish  creek  at  four  the  same  afternoon.  The  departure  of 
Burgoyne's  yvorking  party  for  Fort  Edward  led  him  to  believe 
that  the  entire  British  army  were  in  full  retreat,  having  left  only 
a  small  guard  to  protect  their  baggage.  Acting  upon  this  im- 
pression, he  ordered  Nixon  and  Glover,  with  their  brigades,  to 
cross  the  creek  early  the  next  morning  under  cover  of  the  fog, 
which  at  this  time  of  year  usually  prevails  till  after  sunrise,  and 
attack  the  British  camp.  The  English  general  had  notice  of  this 
plan,  and  placing  a  battery  in  position,  he  posted  his  troops  in 
ambush  behind  the  thickets  along  the  banks  of  the  creek,  and, 
concealed  also  by  the  fog,  awaited  the  attack,  confident  of  vic- 
tory. At  early  daylight  Morgan,  who  had  again  been  selected 
to  begin  the  action,  crossed  the  creek  with  his  men  on  a  raft  of 
floating  logs,  and  falling  in  with  a  British  picket,  was  fired  upon, 
losing  a  lieutenant  and  two  privates.     This  led  him  to  believe 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


113 


that  the  main  body  of  the  enemy  had  not  moved  ;  in  which  case, 
with  the  creek  in  his  rear,  enveloped  by  a  dense  fog,  and  unac- 
([iiainted  with  the  ground,  he  felt  his  position  to  be  most  critical. 

Mea'i while  the  whole  army  advanced  as  far  as  the  south  bank 
of  the  creek,  and  halted.  Nixon,  however,  who  was  in  advance, 
liad  already  crossed  the  strenm  near  its  confluence  with  the 
Hudson,  and  captured  a  picket  of  sixty  men  and  a  number  of 
bateaux,  and  Glover  was  preparing  to  follow  him,  when  a  de- 
serter from  the  enemy  confirmed  the  suspicions  of  Morgan. 
This  was  corroborated,  a  few  moments  afterward,  by  the  capture 
of  a  reconnoitering  party  of  thirty-fiv  'nen  by  the  advanced  guard, 
under  Captain  Goodale,  of  Putnam's  regiment,  who,  discovering 
tliem  through  the  fog  just  as  he  neared  the  opposite  bank, 
charged,  and  took  them  witl^out  firing  a  gun.  Gates  was  at 
this  time  at  his  head-quarters,  a  mile  and  a  half  in  the  rear  ; 
and  before  intelligence  could  be  ,?ent  to  him,  the  fog  cleared  up, 
and  exposed  the  entire  British  amy  under  arms.  A  heavy  fire 
of  artillery  and  musketry  was  immediately  opened  upon  Nixon's 
brigade,  and  they  retreated  in  considerable  disorder  across  the 
creek. 

General  Learned  had  in  the  mean  time  reached  Morgan's  corps 
with  his  own  and  Patterson's  brigades,  and  was  advancing  ra- 
pidly to  the  attack  in  obedience  to  a  standing  order  issued  the 
day  before,  that,  "  in  case  of  an  attack  against  any  point,  whether 
in  front,  flank,  or  rear,  the  troops  are  to  fall  upon  the  enemy  at 
all  quarters."  He  had  arrived  within  two  hundred  yards  of 
Burgoyne's  battery,  and  in  a  few  moments  more  would  have 
been  engaged  at  great  disadvantage,  when  Wilkinson  reached 
him  with  the  news  that  the  right  wing,  under  Nixon,  had  given 
way,  and  that  it  would  be  prudent  to  retreat.  The  brave  old 
general  hesitated  to  comply.  "  Our  brethren,"  said  he,  "  are 
engaged  on  the  right,  and  the  standing  order  is  to  attack,''''  In 
tliis  dilemma  Wilkinson  exclaimed  to  one  of  Gates's  aids,  stand- 
ing near,  "Tell  the  general  that  his  own  fame  and  the  interests 
of  the  cause  are  at  hazard  —  that  his  presence  is  necessary  with 
the  troops."  Then,  turning  to  Learned,  he  continued,  "  Our 
troops  on  the  right  have  retired,  and  the  fire  you  hear  is  from 


h' 


114 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


the  enemy.  Although  I  have  no  orders  for  your  retreat,  I  pledge 
my  life  for  the  general's  approbation."  By  this  time  several 
field  officers  had  joined  the  group,  and  a  consultation  being  held, 
the  proposition  to  retreat  was  aj)proved.  Scarcely  had  they 
faced  about,  when  the  enemy,  who.  cting  their  advance, 

had  been  watching  their  movements  shouldered  arms,  fired, 

and  killed  an  officer  and  several  men  before  they  made  good 
their  retreat. 

The  ground  occupied  by  the  two  armies  after  this  engagement 
resembled  a  vast  amphitheatre,  the  British  occupying  the  arena, 
and  the  Americans  the  elevated  surroundings.  Burgoyne's 
camp,  upon  the  meadows  and  the  heights  of  Saratoga  north  of 
Fish  creek,  was  fortified,  and  extended  half  a  mile  parallel  with 
the  river,  most  of  its  heavy  artillery  being  on  an  elevated  plateau 
northeast  of  the  village  of  Schuylerville.  On  the  American  side 
Morgan  and  his  sharp-shooters  were  posted  on  still  highef  ground 
west  of  the  British,  extending  along  their  entire  rear.  On  the 
east  or  opposite  bank  of  the  Hudson,  Fellows,  with  three  thou- 
sand men,  was  strongly  intrenched  behind  heavy  batteries,  while 
Gates,  with  the  main  body  of  Continentals,  lay  on  the  high 
ground  south  of  Fish  creek  and  parallel  with  it.  On  the  north, 
Fort  Edward  was  held  by  Stark  with  two  thousand  men,  and 
between  that  post  and  Fori  George,  in  the  yicinity  of  Glen's 
Falls,  the  Americans  had  a  fortified  camp  ;  while  from  the  sur- 
rounding country  large  bodies  of  yeomanry  flocked  in  and  vol- 
untarily posted  themselves  up  and  down  the  river.  The  "  trap  " 
which  Riedesel  had  foreseen  was  already  sprung. 

The  Americans,  impatient  of  delay,  urged  Gates  to  attack 
the  British  camp  ;  but  that  general,  now  assured  that  the  sur- 
render of  Burgoyne  was  only  a  question  of  time,  and  unwilling 
needlessly  to  sacrifice  his  men,  refused  to  accede  to  their  wishes, 
and  quietly  awaited  the  course  of  events. 

The  beleaguered  army  was  now  constantly  under  fire  both  on 
its  flanks  and  rear  and  in  front.  The  outposts  were  continually 
engaged  with  those  of  the  Americans,  and  many  of  the  patrols, 
detached  to  keep  up  communication  between  the  centre  and 
right  wing,  were  taken  prisoners.     The  captured  bateaux  were 


THE  Surrender  of  Burqoyne. 


115 


of  great  use  to  the  Americans,  who  were  now  enabled  to  trans- 
port troops  across  the  river  at  pleasure,  and  re-enforce  the  posts 
on  the  road  to  Fort  P^dward.  Every  hour  the  position  of  tlie 
British  grew  more  desperate,  and  the  j)rospect  of  escape  less. 
There  was  no  place  of  safety  for  the  baggage,  and  the  ground 
was  covered  with  dead  horses  that  had  either  been  killed  by  the 
enemy's  bullets  or  by  exhaustion,  as  there  had  been  no  forage 
for  four  days.  Even  for  the  wounded  there  was  no  spot  that 
could  afford  a  safe  shelter  while  the  surgeon  was  binding  up 
their  wounds.  The  whole  camp  became  a  scene  of  constant 
fighting.  The  soldier  dared  not  lay  aside  his  arms  night  or  day, 
except  to  exchange  his  gun  for  the  spade  when  new  entrench- 
ments were  to  be  thrown  up.  He  was  also  debarred  of  water, 
although  close  to  Fish  creek  and  the  river,  it  being  at  the  haz- 
ard of  life  in  the  daytime  to  procure  any,  from  the  number  of 
sharp-shooters  Morgan  had  posted  in  trees,  and  at  night  he  was 
sure  to  be  taken  prisoner  if  he  attempted  it.  The  sick  and 
wouuded  would  drag  themselves  along  into  a  quiet  corner  of  the 
woods,  and  lie  down  and  die  upon  the  damp  ground.  Nor  were 
they  safe  even  here,  since  every  little  while  a  ball  would  come 
crashing  down  among  the  trees.  The  few  houses  that  were  at 
the  foot  of  the  heights  were  nearest  to  the  fire  from  Fellows's 
batteries,  notwithstanding  which  the  wounded  officers  and  men 
crawled  thither,  seeking  protection  in  the  cellars. 

In  one  of  these  cellars  the  Baroness  Riedesel  ministered  to 
the  sufferers  like  an  angel  of  help  and  comfort.  She  made  tliem 
broth,  dressed  their  wounds,  purified  the  atmosphere  by  sprink- 
ling vinegar  on  hot  coals,  and  was  ever  ready  to  perform  any 
friendly  service,  even  those  from  which  the  sensitive  nature  of 
a  woman  will  recoil.  Once,  while  thus  engaged,  a  furious  can- 
nonade was  opened  upon  the  house,  under  the  impression  that 
it  was  the  head-quarters  of  the  English  commander.  "  Alas  !" 
says  Baroness  Riedesel,  "  it  harbored  none  but  wounded  sol- 
diers or  women  !"  Eleven  cannon  balls  went  through  the  house, 
and  those  in  the  cellar  could  plainly  hear  them  crashing  through 
the  walls  overhead.  One  poor  fellow,  whose  leg  they  were 
about  to  amputate  in  the  room  above,  had  his  other  leg  taken 


w 


116 


Centennial  Celebration  op 


I  i 


off  by  one  of  these  cannoti  balls  in  the  very  midst  of  the  opera- 
tion. The  greatest  suffering  was  experienced  by  the  wounded 
from  thirst,  which  was  not  reKoved  until  a  soldier's  wife  volun- 
teered to  bring  water  from  the  river.  This  she  continued  to  do 
with  safety,  the  Americans  gallantly  withholding  their  fire 
whenever  she  appeared. 

Meanwhile  order  grew  more  and  more  lax,  and  the  greatest 
misery  prevailed  throughout  the  entire  army.  The  commissa- 
ries neglected  to  distribute  provisions  among  the  troops,  and  al- 
though there  were  cattle  still  left,  no  animal  had  been  killed. 
More  than  thirty  officers  came  to  the  baroness  for  food,  forced 
to  this  step  from  sheer  starvation,  one  of  them,  a  Canadian,  be- 
ing so  weak  as  to  be  unable  to  stand.  She  divided  among  them 
all  the  provisions  at  hand,  and  having  exhausted  her  store  with- 
out satisfying  them,  in  an  agony  of  despair  she  callea  *o  Adju- 
tant-General Petersham,  one  of  Burgoyne's  aids,  who  chanced 
to  be  passing  at  the  time,  and  said  to  him,  passionately,  "  Come 
and  see  for  yourself  these  officers  who  have  been  wounded  ii 
the  common  cause,  and  are  now  in  want  of  every  thing  that  is 
due  them  !  It  i'  your  duty  to  make  a  representation  of  this  to 
the  general."  Soon  afterward  Burgoyne  himself  came  to  the 
Baroness  liiedesel  and  thanked  her  for  reminding  him  of  his 
duty.  In  reply  she  apologized  for  meddling  Avith  things  she 
well  knew  were  out  of  a  woman's  province  ;  still,  it  was  impos- 
sible, she  said,  for  her  to  keep  silence  when  she  saw  so  many 
brave  men  in  want  of  food,  and  had  nothing  more  to  give  them. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  12th  Burgoyne  held  a  consultation 
with  liiedesel,  Phillips,  and  the  two  brigadiers,  Hamilton  and 
Gall.  Riedesel  suggested  that  the  baggage  should  be  left,  and 
a  retreat  begun  on  the  west  side  of  the  Hudson  ;  and  as  Fort 
Edward  had  been  reenforced  by  a  strong  detachment  of  the 
Americans,  he  further  proposed  to  cross  the  river  four  miles 
above  that  fort,  and  continue  the  march  to  Ticonderoga  through 
the  woods,  leaving  Lake  George  on  the  right  —  a  plan  which 
was  then  feasible,  as  the  road  on  the  west  bank  of  the  river  had 
not  yet  been  occupied  by  the  enemy.  This  proposition  was  ap- 
proved, and  an  order  was  issued  that  the  retreat  should  be  be- 


the  opera- 
B  wounded 
vit'e  voluii- 
inued  to  do 
;  their  lire 

he  greatest 
commissa- 
)ops,  and  al- 
been  killed, 
bod,  forced 
anadian,  be- 
among  them 
•  store  with- 
ea  *o  Adju- 
^ho  chanced 
tely,  '*  Come 
wounded  ii 
thing  that  is 
on  of  this  to 
came  to  the 
g  him  of  his 
things  she 
t  was  impos- 
iw  so  many 
;o  give  them, 
consultation 
amilton  and 
be  left,  and 
and  as  Fort 
ment  of  the 
four  miles 
roga  through 
plan  which 
the  river  had 
^ition  was  ap- 
lould  be  be- 


THE  Surrender  of  Burooyne. 


117 


gun  by  ten  o'clock  that  night.  But  when  every  thing  was  in 
readines!-  for  the  march,  Hurgoyne  suddetdy  clianged  his  mind, 
and  postponed  the  movement  until  the  next  day,  when  an  unex- 
pected maneuver  of  the  Americans,  made  it  impossible.  Dur- 
ing the  night  the  latter,  crossing  the  river  on  rafts  near  the 
Batten  kil,  erected  a  heavy  battery  on  an  eminence  opposite  the 
mouth  of  that  stream,  and  on  the  left  flank  of  the  army,  thus 
making  the  investment  complete. 

Burgoyne  was  now  entirely  surrounded  ;  the  desertions  of 
his  Indian  and  Canadian  allies,'  and  the  losses  in  killed  and 
wounded,  had  reduced  his  army  one-half  ;  there  was  not  food 
sufficient  for  five  days  ;  and  not  a  word  from  Clinton.  Accord- 
ingly, on  the  13th,  he  again  called  a  general  council  of  all  his 
officers,  including  the  captains  of  companies.  The  council  were 
not  long  in  deciding  unanimously  that  a  treaty  should  be  at 
once  opened  with  General  Gates  for  an  honorable  surrender, 
their  deliberations  being  doubtless  hastened  by  several  rifle- 
balls  perforating  the  tent  in  which  they  were  assembled,  and 
an  18-pound  cannon-ball  sweeping  across  the  table  at  which 
Burgoyne  and  his  generals  were  seated. 

The  following  morning,  the  14th,  Burgoyne  proposed  a  ces- 
sation of  hostilities  until  terms  of  capitulation  could  be  arranged. 
Gates  demanded  an  unconditional  surrender,  which  was  refused  ; 
but  he  finally  agreed,  on  the  15th,  to  more  moderate  terms,  in- 
fluenced by  the  possibility  of  Clinton's  arrival  at  Albany. 
During  the  night  of  the  16th  a  provincial  officer  ar-ived  unex- 
pectedly in  the  British  camp  and  stated  that  he  had  heard, 
through  a  third  party,  that  Clinton  had  captured  the  forts  on 
the  Hudson  highlands,  and  arrived  at  Esopus  eight  days  pre- 
viously, and  further,  that  by  this  time  he  was  very  likely  at 
Albany.  Burgoyne  was  so  encouraged  by  this  news,  that,  as 
the  articles  of  capitulation  were  not  yet  signed,  he  resolved  to 


1  In  justice  to  Burgoyne  It  should  be  stated  that  the  chief  cau«e  of  the  desertion  of  his 
Indian  allies  was  the  fact  that  they  were  checlted  by  him  in  tht-ir  scalping  and  plunder- 
inj;  of  the  unarmed.  Indeed,  the  conduct  of  the  English  general  was,  in  this  respect, 
most  hamane ;  and  yet,  with  strange  inconsistency,  he  was  among  the  first  strenuously 
to  urge  upon  Lord  North  the  employment  of  the  Indiana  against  the  colouista.  See 
Fonblanque'B  work,  p.  178, 

16 


.•I 


118 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


repudiate  uhe  informal  arrangement  with  Gates.  The  latter, 
however,  was  in  no  mood  for  temporizing,  and  being  informed 
of  this  new  phase  of  affairs,  he  drew  up  his  troops  in  order  of 
battle  at  early  dawn  of  the  next  day,  the  Hth,  and  informed 
him  in  plain  terms  that  he  must  either  sign  the  treaty  or  pre- 
pare for  immediate  battle.  Riedesel  and  Phillips  added  their 
persuasions,  representing  to  him  that  the  news  just  received 
was  mere  hearsay,  but  even  if  it  were  true,  to  recede  now  would 
be  in  the  highest  degree  dishonorable.  Burgoyne  thereupon 
yielded  a  reluctant  consent,  and  the  articles  of  capitulation  were 
signed  at  nine  o'clock  the  same  morning. 

They  provided  that  the  British  were  to  march  out  with  the 
honors  of  war,  and  to  be  furnished  a  free  passage  to  England 
under  promise  of  not  again  serving  against  the  Americans. 
These  terms  were  not  carried  out  by  congress,  which  acted  in 
the  matter  very  dishonorably,  and  most  of  the  captured  army, 
with  the  exceptions  of  Burgoyne,  Riedesel,  Phillips,  and  Hamil- 
ton, were  retained  as  prisoners  while  the  war  lasted.  The 
Americans  obtained  by  this  victory,  at  a  very  critical  pei'iod,  an 
excellent  train  of  brass  artillery,  consist;ng  of  forty-two  guns 
of  various  calibre,  4,647  muskets,  400  sets  of  harness,  and  a 
large  supply  of  ammunition.  The  prisoners  numbered  5,804, 
and  the  entire  American  force  at  the  time  of  the  surrender,  in- 
cluding regulars  (Continentals)  and  militia,  was  17,091  effective 
men. 

At  eleven  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  17th  the  roj^al  army 
left  their  fortified  camp,  and  formed  in  line  on  the  meadow  just 
north  of  the  Fish  creek,  at  its  junction  with  the  Hudson. 
Here  they  left  their  cannon  and  small-arms.  With  a  longing 
eye  the  artillery-man  looked  for  the  last  time  upon  his  faithful 
gun,  parting  with  it  as  from  his  bride,  and  that  forever.  With 
tears  trickling  down  his  bronzed  cheeks,  the  bearded  grenadier 
stacked  his  musket  to  resume  it  no  more.  Others,  in  their 
rage,  knocked  off  the  butts  of  their  arms,  and  the  drummers 
stamped  their  drums  to  pieces. 

Immediately  after  the    surrender,   the   liritish    took  up  their 
march  for  Boston,  whence  they  expected  to  embark,  and  bivou- 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


119 


acked  the  first  night  at  their  old  encampment  at  the  foot  of  the 
hill  where  Eraser  was  buried.  As  they  debouched  from  the 
meadow,  having  deposited  their  arras,  they  passed  between  the 
Continentals,  who  were  drawn  up  in  parallel  lines.  But  on  no 
face  did  they  see  exultation.  "  As  we  passed  the  American 
army,  "  writes  Lieutenant  Anbury,  one  of  the  captured  officers, 
and  bitterly  prejudiced  against  his  conquerors,  "  I  did  not  ob- 
serve the  least  disrespect,  or  even  a  taunting  look,  but  all  was 
mute  astonishment  and  pity  ;  and  it  gave  us  no  little  comfort 
to  notice  this  civil  deportment  to  a  captured  enemy,  unsullied 
with  the  exulting  air  of  victors.  " 

The  English  general  having  expressed  a  desire  to  be  form- 
ally introduced  to  Gates,  Wilkinson  arranged  an  interview  a 
few  moments  after  the  capitulation.  In  anticipation  of  this 
meeting,  Burgoyne  had  bestowed  the  greatest  care  upon  his 
whole  toilet.  He  had  attired  himself  in  full  court  dress,  and 
wore  costly  regimentals  and  a  richly  decorated  hat  with  stream- 
ing plumes.  Gates,  on  the  contrary,  was  dressed  merely  in  a 
plain  blue  overcoat,  which  had  upon  it  scarcely  any  thing  indi- 
cative of  his  rank.  Upon  the  two  generals  first  catching  a 
glimpse  of  each  other,  they  stepped  forward  simultaneously, 
and  advanced  until  they  were  only  a  few  steps  apart,  when 
they  halted.  The  English  general  took  off  his  hat,  and  making 
a  polite  bow,  said,  "  The  fortune  of  war,  General  Gates,  has 
made  me  your  prisoner. "  The  American  general,  in  reply, 
simply  returned  his  greeting,  and  said,  "  I  shall  always  be  ready 
to  testify  that  it  has  not  been  through  any  fault  of  your  excel- 
lency. "  As  soon  as  the  introduction  was  over,  the  other  cap- 
tive generals  repaired  to  the  tent  of  Gates,  where  they  were 
received  with  the  utmost  courtesy,  and  with  the  consideration 
due  to  brave  but  unfortunate  men. 

After  Riedesel  had  been  presented  to  Gen.  Gates,  he  sent  for 
his  wife  and  children.  It  is  to. this  circumstance  that  we  owe 
the  portraiture  of  a  lovely  trait  in  General  Schuyler's  character. 
**In  the  passage  through  the  American  camp,"  the  baroness 
writes,  '*  I  observed,  with  great  satisfaction,  that  no  one  cast  at 
us  scornful  glances  ;  on  the  contrary,  they  all  greeted  me,  even 


ETTT^l 


120 


Centen'^^il  Celebration  of 


showing  compassion  on  their  countenances  at  seeing  a  mother 
with  her  little  children  in  such  a  situation.  I  confess  I  feared 
to  come  into  the  enemy's  camp,  as  the  thing  was  so  entirely  new 
to  me.  When  I  approached  the  tents,  a  noble  looking  man 
came  toward  me,  took  the  children  out  of  the  wagon,  embraced 
and  kissed  them,  and  then,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  helped  me 
also  to  alight.  He  then  led  me  to  the  tent  of  General  Gates, 
with  whom  I  found  Generals  Burgoyne  and  Phillips,  who  were 
upon  an  extremely  friendly  footing  with  him.  Presently  the 
man,  who  had  received  me  so  kindly,  came  up  and  said  to  me, 
'  It  may  be  embarrrassing  to  you  to  dine  with  all  these  gentle- 
men ;  come  now  with  your  children  into  my  tent,  where  I  will 
give  you,  it  is  true,  a  frugal  meal,  but  one  that  will  be  accom- 
panied by  the  best  of  wishes.'  '  You  are  certainly,'  answered  I, 
'  a  husband  and  a  father,  since  you  show  me  so  much  kindness.' 
I  then  leaiTied  that  he  was  the  American  General  Schuyler." 

The  English  and  German  generals  dined  with  the  American 
commander  in  his  tent  on  boards  laid  across  barrels.  The  din- 
ner, which  was  served  up  in  four  dishes,  consisted  only  of  ordi- 
nary viands,  the  Americans  at  this  penod  being  accustomed  to 
plain  and  frugal  meals.  The  drink  on  this  occasion  was  cider, 
and  rum  mixed  with  water.  Burgoyne  appeared  in  excellent 
humor.  He  talked  a  great  deal,  and  spoke  very  flatteringly  of 
the  Americans,  remarking,  among  other  things,  that  he  admired 
the  number,  dress,  and  discipline  of  their  army,  and,  above  all, 
the  decorum  and  regularity  that  were  observed.  "  Your  fund 
of  men,"  he  said  to  Gates,  "  is  inexhaustible  ;  like  the  Hydra's 
head,  when  cut  off,  seven  more  spring  up  in  its  stead."  He  also 
proposed  a  toast  to  General  Washington  —  an  attention  that 
Gates  returned  by  drinking  the  health  of  the  king  of  England. 
The  conversation  on  both  sides  was  unrestrained,  affable,  and 
free.  Indeed,  the  conduct  of  Gates  throughout,  after  the  terms 
of  the  surrender  had  been  adjusted,  was  marked  with  equal  deli- 
cacy and  magnanimity,  as  Burgoyne  himself  admitted  in  a  letter 
to  the  Earl  of  Derby.  In  that  letter  the  captive  general  particu- 
larly mentioned  one  circumstance,  which,  he  said,  exceeded  all 
he  had  ever  seen  or  read  of  on  a  like  occasion.     It  was  that 


THE  Surrender  of  Burqoyne. 


121 


when  the  British  soldiers  had  marched  out  of  their  camp  to  the 
place  where  they  were  to  pile  their  arms,  not  a  man  of  the 
American  troops  was  to  be  seen,  General  Gates  having  ordered 
his  whole  army  out  of  sight,  that  no  one  of  them  should  be  a 
spectator  of  the  humiliation  of  the  British  troops.  This  was  a 
refinement  of  delicacy  and  of  military  generosity  and  polite- 
ness, reflecting  the  highest  credit  upon  the  conqueror. 

As  the  company  rose  from  table,  the  royal  army  tiled  past  on 
their  march  to  the  sea  board.  Thereupon,  by  preconcerted 
arrangement,  the  two  generals  stepped  out,  and  Burgoyne, 
drawing  his  sword,  presented  it,  in  the  presence  of  the  two 
armies,  to  General  Gates.  The  latter  received  it  with  a  court- 
eous bow,  and  immediately  returnc  i  it  to  the  vanquished  general. 

General  Burgoyne  added  to  a  prepossessing  exterior  the 
polished  manners  and  keen  sagacity  of  a  courtier.  He  was  also 
witty  and  brave.  But  personal  courage  alone  does  not  con- 
stitute a  commander;  for  of  a  commander  other  qualities  are 
expected,  especially  experience  and  presence  of  mind.  Bur- 
goyne lacked  both.  In  his  undertakings  he  was  hasty  and 
self-willed.  Desiring  to  do  everything  alone,  he  hardly  ever 
consulted  with  others  ;  and  yet  he  never  knew  how  to  keep  a 
plan  secret.  While  in  a  subordinate  position,  continually  carp- 
ing at  his  military  superiors  and  complaining  of  the  inferiority 
of  his  position,  yet  when  given  a  separate  command  he  was 
guilty  of  the  same  faults  which  he  had  reprehended  in  others. 
Being  a  great  Sybarite,  he  often  neglected  the  duties  of  a  gene- 
ral, as  well  toward  his  king  as  his  subordinates  ;  and  while  he 
was  enjoying  choice  food  and  wines,  his  army  suffered  the  keen- 
est want.  Soon  after  the  surrender  he  returned  to  England, 
and  justly  threw  the  failure  of  the  expedition  upon  the  adminis- 
tration,'     He  was  received  very  coolly  at  first  by  the  court  and 


>  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  had  Burjfoyno  been  properly  supported  by  Howe,  he 
would,  despite  his  mlstiikcs,  have  reached  Albany,  since  Ir.  that  case  Gates  would  not 
have  been  at  Stillwater  with  an  army  of  men  to  oppose  him,  Mr.  Fonblnnque  makes 
public,  for  the  flrst  time,  a  Tact  throwing  untii-o  now  light  on  the  apparent  r«iln  re  of  Howe 
and  clears  up  all  that  has  hitherto  seemed  mysterious  and  contnidictory.  Orders  lully 
as  Imperative  as  those  to  Burgoyne  were  to  have  been  sent  to  Howe,  but,  owing  to  the 
carelessness  ol°  Qermaine,  they  were  pigeon-holed,  and  never  forwarded.  Hence 
Howe  acted  on  the  discretionary  orders  sent  him  previously,  and  concluded  to  go  to 


122 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


people,  the  king  refusing  to  see  him  ;  but,  upon  a  change  of 
the  ministry,  he  regained  somewhat  of  his  popularity. 

In  regard  to  General  Gates,  the  same  incapacity  which  after- 
wards characterized  his  unfortunate  southern  campaign  was 
manifested  from  the  time  of  his  assuming  the  leadership  of  th(! 
northern  army  until  the  surrender.  It  was,  perhaps,  no  fault 
of  his  tl)at  he  had  been  placed  in  command  at  the  North  just  at 
the  auspicious  moment  when  the  discomfiture  of  Burgoyne  was 
no  longer  problematical.  But  it  is  no  less  true  that  the  laurels 
won  by  him  ought  to  have  been  worn  by  Schuyler.  Wilkinson, 
who  was  a  member  of  Gates's  own  military  family,  has  placed 
this  question  in  its  true  aspect.  He  maintains  that  not  only  had 
the  army  of  Hurgoyne  been  essentially  disabled  by  the  defeat 
of  the  Germans  at  Bennington,  before  the  arrival  of  Gates,  but 
that  the  repulse  of  St.  Leger,  at  Fort  Stanwix,  had  deranged 
his  plans,  while  safety  had  been  restored  to  the  western  frontier, 
and  the  panic  thereby  caused  had  subsided.  He  likewise  main- 
tains that  after  the  i-everses  at  the  North,  nowise  attributable 
to  him,  and  btfore  the  arrival  of  Gates,  the  zeal,  patriotism 
and  salutary  arrangements  of  General  Schuyler  had  vanquished 
the  prejudices  excited  against  him  ;  that  by  the  defeat  of  Baum 
and  St.  Leger,  Schuyler  had  been  enabled  to  concentrate  and 
oppose  his  whole  Continental  force  against  the  niain  body  of 
the  enemy  ;  and  that  by  him,  also  before  the  arrival  of  Gates, 
the  friends  of  the  Revolution  had  been  reanimated  and  excited 
to  manly  resistance,  while  the  adherents  of  the  royal  cause  were 
intimidated,  and  had  shrunk  into  silence  and  inactivity.  From 
these  premises,  which  are  indisputable,  it  is  no  more  than  a  fair 
deduction  to  say  that  "  the  same  force  which  enabled  Gates  to 
subdue  the  British  army  would  have  produced  a  similar  eflP.  ot 
under  the  orders  of  General  Schuyler,  since  the  operations  of 


Philadelphia,  Instead  oi  Albany,  merely  telling  Clinton,  if  other  reinforcements  came 
meanwhile  from  Engliuul,  he  might  malce  a  divirsion  in  favor  of  Bnrgoyne.  Primarily, 
then,  the  Inilure  of  Burgoyne's  expedition  was  due  to  the  negligence  of  the  war  minister. 
Even,  however,  with  the  failure  of  Howe's  support,  Burgoyne.  but  for  his  errors,  might 
have  joined  Clinton.  Neither  does  this  failure  of  Howe  palliate  the  blunders  l)y  which 
he  lost  his  army  during  the  retreat.  It  should  also  be  stated  that  Burgoyne,  in  arranging 
with  the  liing  for  the  campaign,  insisted  most  strongly  that  bis  success  depended  on 
Uowe'a  cooperation. 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


123 


the  campaign  did  not  involve  a  single  instance  of  professional 
skill,  and  the  triumph  of  the  American  arms  was  accomplished 
by  the  physical  force  and  valor  of  the  troops,  under  the  pro- 
tection and  direction  of  the  God  of  battles." 

THE  FIELD  OF  THE  GROUNDED  ARMS,  SARATOGA. 

WRITTEN  IN  1831  BiT  FITZ  GREENE  HALLECK. 

Read  by  General  James  Grant  Wilson,  Halleck's  Biographer. 

Strangers  I  your  eyes  are  on  that  valley  fixed 
Intently,  as  we  gaze  on  vacancy, 

When  the  mind's  wings  o'erspread 

The  spirit  world  of  dreams. 

True,  'tis  a  scone  of  loveliness —  the  bright 
Green  dwelling  of  the  summer's  first-born  hours, 

Whose  wakened  leaf  and  bud 

Are  welcoming  the  morn. 

And  morn  returns  the  welcome,  sun  and  cloud 
Smile  on  the  green  earth  from  their  home  in  heaven. 

Even  as  a  mother  smiles 

Above  her  cradled  boy. 

And  wreathe  their  light  and  shade  o'er  plain  and  mountain, 
O'er  sleepless  seas  of  grass,  whose  waves  are  flowers. 

The  river's  golden  shores. 

The  forest  of  dark  pines. 

The  song  of  the  wild  bird  is  on  the  wind. 
The  hum  of  the  wild  bee,  the  music  wild, 

Of  waves  upon  the  bank. 

Of  leaves  upon  the  bough. 

But  all  is  song  and  beauty  in  the  land, 

Beneath  her  skies  of  June;  then  journey  on,  , 

A  thousand  scenes  like  this 

Will  greet  you  ere  the  eve. 

Ye  linger  yet  —  ye  see  not,  hear  not  now. 
The  sunny  smile,  t'ae  music  of  to-day, 

Your  thoughts  are  wandering  up. 

Far  up  the  stream  of  time. 

And  boyhood's  lore  and  fireside-listened  tales. 
Are  rushing  on  your  memories,  as  ye  breathe 


124        Centennial  Celebration  op 

That  Valley's  storied  natne, 
Field  of  the  Grounded  Abms. 

Strangers  no  more,  a  kindred  "  pride  of  place," 
Pride  in  the  gift  of  country,  and  of  nai&e, 

Spealcs  in  your  eye  and  step  — 

Ye  tread  your  native  land. 

And  your  high  thoughts  are  on  her  glory's  day, 
The  solemn  sabbath  of  the  week  of  battle, 

Whose  tempest  bowed  to  earth 

Her  foeman's  banner  here. 

The  forest  leaves  lay  scattered  cold  and  dead, 
Upon  the  withered  grass  that  autumn  morn. 

When,  with  as  widowed  hearts 

And  hopes  as  dead  and  cold, 

A  gallant  army  formed  their  last  array 
Upon  that  field,  in  silence  and  deep  gloom. 
And  at  their  conqueror's  feet 
Laid  their  war-weapons  down. 

Sullen  and  stern,  disarmed  but  not  dishonored; 
Brave  men,  but  brave  in  vain,  they  yielded  there : 

The  soldier's  trial-task 

Is  not  alone  "  to  die." 

Honor  to  chivalry  !  the  conqueror's  breath 
Stains  not  the  ermine  of  his  foeman's  fame. 

Nor  mocks  his  captive  doom  — 

The  bitterest  cup  of  war. 

But  be  that  bitterest  cup  the  doom  of  all 
Whose  swords  are  lightning-flashes  in  the  cloud 

Of  the  invader's  wrath, 

Threatening  a  gallant  land  ! 

His  armies'  trumpet-tones  wake  not  alone 
Her  slumbering  echoes  ;  from  a  thousand  hills 

Her  answering  voices  shout. 

And  her  bells  ring  to  arms  1 

The  danger  hovers  o'er  the  invader's  march, 
On  raven  wings  hushing  the  song  of  fame. 

And  glory's  hues  of  beauty 

Fade  from  the  cheek  of  death. 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne.       125 

A  foe  is  heard  in  every  rustling  leaf, 
^  A  fortres>d  seen  in  every  rock  and  tree, 
The  eagle  eye  of  art 
Is  dim  and  powerless  tlien. 

And  war  becomes  the  people's  joy,  the  drum 
Man's  merriest  music,  and  the  field  of  death 

His  couch  of  happy  dreams. 

After  life's  harvest-home. 

He  battles  heart  and  arm,  his  own  blue  sky 
Above  him,  and  his  own  green  land  around, 

Land  of  his  father's  grave, 

His  blessing  and  his  prayers ; 

Land  where  he  learned  to  lisp  a  mother's  name, 
The  first  beloved  in  life,  the  last  forgot, 

Land  of  his  frolic  youth. 

Land  of  his  bi  idal  eve  — 

Land  of  his  children  —  vain  your  columned  strength, 
Invaders  !  vain  your  battles'  steel  and  fire !  * 

Choose  ye  the  niorrow's  doom  — 

A  prison  or  a  grave. 

And  such  were  Saratoga's  victors  —  such 

The  Yeoman-Brave,  whose  deeds  and  death  have  given 

A  glory  to  her  skies, 

A  music  to  her  name. 

In  honorable  life  her  fields  they  trod. 
In  honorable  death  they  sleep  below  ; 

Their  souls'  proud  feelings  here 

Their  noblest  monuments. 


B.  W.  THROCKMORTON'S  ADDRESS. 
SUBJECT,  ARNOLD. 

Who  among  us  has  ever  gazed  upon  scenes  more  magnificent 
and  inspiring  than  those  by  which  we  are  this  day  surrcninded. 
In  Milton's  phrase  they  might  "  create  a  soul  under  the  ribs  of 
death."  We  stand  upon  holy  haunted  ground.  We  gaze  upon 
a  vast  sea  of  humanity.  Now  surging  and  restless,  now  lulled 
to  quiet,  even  as  the  ocean  swells  and  slumbers.  A  quickened 
mass  ;  awakened  to  an  intensity  of  patriotism.     Above,  a  clear 

17 


126 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


October  sky,  from  which  the  sunlight  falls  like  a  benediction. 
Around  us  hills  rising  into  mountains,  illuminated  by  heroic 
deeds  and  events,  with  no  less  brightness  than  that  which  now 
gloi'ifies  them,  shining  resplendent  as  they  do  in  their  rich  au- 
tumr  dl  colors,  by  "  nature's  own  sweet  and  cunning  hand  laid 
on."  Almost  at  our  feet  the  historic  Hudson,  the  "still-water" 
of  the  v-'lden  time,  glides  onward  with  murmurs  harmonious  as 
music  hta'-d  in  dreams.  While  beyond  from  the  hilltops, 
wreathed  masses  of  smoke  curl  upward  from  batteries,  planted 
where  one  hui  dred  years  ago  other  camions  belched  forth  tUeir 
fires,  signals  to  the  commanders  in  the  field.  Participating  in 
the  ceremonies  of  an  occasion  such  as  this,  surely  one  may  say, 
life  has  not  been  lived  altogether  in  vain,  such  a  celebration  has 
no  mere  sectional  import.  It  is  national  in  its  interest.  The 
pride  felt  by  New  York  to-day  provokes  no  jealousy  in  other 
states.  A  representative,  so  to  speak,  of  New  Jersey,  let  me 
say  a  word  for  her.  Her  sacrifice  in  blood  and  treasure,  in  pro- 
portion to  her  wealth  and  population,  was  as  great,  during  the 
revolutionary  struggle,  as  that  of  any  other  colony;  indeed 
some  historians  assert  they  were  greater.  She  is  immortal  in 
the  memories  of  Princeton,  Trenton  and  Monmouth. 

Some  of  her  troops  formed  a  part  of  the  right  wing  of  Gates's 
army  during  the  battle  of  Bemis's  Heights.  September  19th  ; 
and  more  would  have  shared  with  those  of  New  York 
and  other  of  the  colonies  the  glories  of  Saratoga,  had 
they  not,  with  Washington  at  their  head,  been  engaged  in 
defending  their  own  firesides.  New  Jersey  is  jealous  of  the 
glorious  work  she  did  in  securing  for  this  nation  its  independ- 
ence. Yet  to-day,  she  congratulates  New  York  that,  upon  its 
soil  were  fought  the  battles  that,  being  crowned  with  victory, 
secured  the  P^'rench  alliance,  and  dissipated  the  gloom  that  had 
hitherto  hung  like  a  pall  over  the  hearts  of  those  who  hoped 
and  struggled  for  the  ultimate  of  American  liberty. 

Orators  and  poets  have  this  day,  already  painted  the  scenes 
of  the  past,  so  glowingly,  that  they  stand  out  before  the  imagi- 
nation even  as  the  colors  of  the  master  upon  the  canvas. 

There  seems  to  be  but  little  left  for  me,  save  the  work  of 


THE  Surrender  of  Burqoyne. 


127 


immortal  in 


needless  reiteration.  And  yet,  I  cannot  refrain  from  adding  my 
contribution  of  spoken  words  to  this  occasion.  In  one  respect, 
it  almost  seems  a  melancholy  one. 

Who  shall  say  otherwise,  when  contemplation  dwells  upon 
the  subsequent  career  of  him,  who  was  perhaps  the  most  con- 
spicuous actor  in  the  drama,  the  end  of  which  was  announced, 
when  the  curtain  fell  upon  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne. 

Millions  have  lived  upon  the  earth,  and  given  expression  to 
thoughts  that  should  never  die.  Heroism  has  been  displayed 
and  sacrifice  endured  on  land  and  sea,  deserving  of  deathless 
memory.  Deeds  have  been  performed  in  every  walk  in  life 
that  might  put  to  blush  many  that  are  recorded  as  the  noblest ; 
yet,  as  to  these,  history  is  silent.  Poetry  tunes  not  her  lyre, 
and  not  even  a  name  is  graven  upon  churchyard  stone.  Lives 
that  have  benefited  the  world,  seem  to  have  been  but  as  drops 
that  fell  into  the  ocean  of  time  and  were  lost. 

A  great  virtue  may  never  be  remembered,  but  how  deathless 
is  a  great  crime  ! 

But  for  the  valor  of  Benedict  Arnold,  there  had  been  no 
reason,  perchance,  for  the  assembling  of  this  vast  concourse,  and 
this  corner  stone  might  never  have  been  laid,  of  a  monument, 
which,  when  completed  according  to  design,  will  recall  with 
startling  and  awful  emphasis,  a  deed  that  blackened  a  soul,  and 
had  for  its  purpose  the  rnin  of  a  nation  ! 

Remembering  the  services  Arnold  rendered  his  country  upon 
the  battle  field  of  Saratoga,  one  can  almost  wish  that  oblivion 
might  blot  his  name  from  the  future  pages  of  history.  But  this 
could  not  be. 

To  every  virtue,  doubtless  its  reward  !  To  every  evil,  its 
avenging  sequel  !  And,  it  would  almost  seem  that  the  avenging 
sequel  to  the  evil  Benedict  Arnold  wrought,  would  affright  the 
world  against  the  crime  of  treason  ! 

Wounded  before  Quebec,  Arnold  wrote  :  "I  am  in  the  way 
of  duty,  and  I  know  no  fear." 

"  ConBclence  does  mp.ke  cowards  of  ub  all." 
He  knew  what  "fear"  was.  when  he  skulked  from  the  presence 
of  Washington  and  made  his  traitor  flight  from  West  Point. 


I 


,.1 


128 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


It  was  at  Saratoga,  a  century  ago,   October  Vth,  that  a  shot 
struck  the  leg  that  had  been  wounded  at  Quebec.     Better  a 
thousand  times,  it  had  pierced  the  lieait  or  cleft  the  brain  of  him 
whose  own  treachery  taught  him  cowardice. 
A  very  old  couplet  runs  thus  : 

"  Burgoyne,  alas,  unknowing  future  fates, 
Could  force  bia  way  through  woods,  but  not 
Through  gates." 

Unmerited  honor  is  even  in  this  quaint  rhyme,  bestowed  upon 
one,  who,  in  Schuyler's  place,  should  have  stood  in  citizen's 
dress  beside  the  commander  who  received  the  sword  of  Bur- 
goyne. 

The  blows  that  crippled  the  English  general  were  struck 
September  19th,  and  October  7th,  1777.  On  the  morning  of 
the  19th,  both  armies  were  I'eady  for  battle.  Gates,  of  whom 
Bancroft  says,  "  he  had  no  fitness  for  command,  and  wanted 
personal  courage,"  had  determined  to  act  upon  the  defensive 
within  his  own  lines,  and  scarcely  left  his  tent  throughout  the 
whole  of  the  conflict.  Towards  noon  of  the  day,  a  hoarse  gun 
booms  its  echoes  through  the  surrounding  country.  It  is  the 
signal  for  the  advanced  guard  of  the  enemy  to  move  forward. 
At  "ength  a  large  force  push  toward  the  left,  right  and  centre, 
of  the  American  army.  Yielding  at  last  to  Arnold's  repeated 
pursuasions  and  entreaties.  Gates  permits  him  to  send  out 
Morgan  and  Dearborn  to  begin  the  offensive.  American  pickets 
drive  back  a  party  of  Canadians,  tories  and  savages.  Burgoyne 
prepares  to  fall  upon  the  American  right  and  centre.  Fraser 
seeks  to  turn  the  American  left.  Arnold  makes  a  rapid  and 
brilliant  movement  to  turn  the  British  right,  but  fails,  because 
Gates  refuses  to  furnish  him  with  reinforcements. 

Each  army  now  pressed  forward  with  little  knowledge  of  the 
other's  movements,  because  of  the  density  of  the  forest.  Unex- 
pectedly they  meet,  and  a  desperate  conflict  ensues  upon  the 
banks  of  Mill  creek,  the  waters  of  which  run  red  with  blood. 
Arnold,  forced  back  by  Fraser,  rallies  his  men  and  hurls  them 
upon  the  foe  with  an  impetuosity  that  compels  the  enemy  to 
waver,  but  with  the  aid  of  fresh  troops  they  stand  firm.     There 


TUE  Surrender  of  Burooynb. 


129 


now  comes  a  lull  —  like  the  sudden  quiet  that  precedes  the  giant 
storm  ;  the  pause  in  wiiich  nature  seems  to  steady  lierself  for 
resistance  to  the  blow  that  must  fall  —  and  the  terrible  tem- 
pest of  battle  is  renewed.  An  intervening  wood  shelters  the 
Americans.  The  liritish  are  in  an  open  pine  forest.  Jiurgoyne 
recommences  his  hostilities  with  a  fierce  cannonade,  orders  a 
bayonet  charge,  and  pushes  columns  of  infantry  across  the 
cleared  space  toward  the  American  troops.  The  latter,  silent 
and  motionless,  wait,  until  the  fire  of  the  foe  has  been  drawn, 
and  then  hurl  themselves  with  such  fury  upon  them  that  they 
are  forced  back  half  way.  Arnold  is  at  head  quarters,  i)lead- 
ing  for  reinforcements,  in  vain.  He  is  told  that  the  battle  is 
again  raging.  That  victory  for  either  side  hangs  in  the  balance. 
Impatiently  exclaiming,  "  I'll  soon  put  an  end  to  it,"  he  mounts 
his  horse  and  sets  off  at  full  speed.  His  presence  infuses  new 
ardor  into  the  troops,  and  for  three  hours  the  conflict  rages, 
closing  only  when  darkness  enwraps  the  scene.  "  But  for  Ar- 
nold on  that  eventful  day,"  says  Lossing,  "  Burgoyne  would 
doubtless  have  marched  into  Albany,  at  the  autumnal  equinox, 
a  victor." 

And  again  during  the  fearful  and  decisive  battle  of  October 
7th,  where  was  General  Gates?  Directing  his  orders  from  the 
camp,  and  part  of  the  time  engaged  in  wordy  discussions  with 
his  prisoner,  Sir  Francis  Clarke,  upon  the  merits  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. Where  was  Arnold  ?  Refused  a  command  through  the 
jealousy  of  his  superior  officer,  hurt  to  the  core  by  the  indignity 
thus  heaped  upon  him,  he  watches  with  eager  eyes  the  progress 
of  the  battle.  He  seet>  Morgan  hurl  himself  with  resistless 
fury  upon  the  British  right  flank  and  throw  it  into  confusion  ; 
sees  Dearborn  v.ith  fresh  troops  attack  the  shattered  masses  of 
the  foe  upon  their  front  ;  sees  their  terrified  flight,  but  marks 
their  rally  under  the  inspiration  of  Lord  Balcarras  ;  unable 
longer  to  keep  down  the  impetuous  ardor  that  forces  him  to  the 
front,  he  puts  spurs  to  his  horse  and  rushes  headlong  into  the 
conflict.  Gates  instantly  sends  Major  Armstrong  to  call  him 
back.  Arnold  beholds  him  coming,  guesses  his  purpose,  and 
before  it  can  be  carried  out,  is  at  the  head  of  three  regiments, 


M 


130 


Centennial  Celebration  op 


and  in  the  very  tliiokest  of  the  contest.  From  this  moment, 
mid  flame  and  smoke  and  tlie  terrible  heat  of  battle,  he  is  the 
master  power.  With  sword  in  hand,  the  incarnation  of  valor, 
he  encourages  by  voice  and  action  those  who  follow  him  even 
to  a  point  within  the  enemy's  entrenchments.  Here,  at  the 
head  of  the  troops  he  has  led  to  victory,  the  foe  in  full  retreat, 
wounded  and  disabled  himself  and  his  horse  killed  beneath  him, 
he  is  overtaken  by  Major  Armstrong  with  Gates's  order  that  he 
return  to  camp,  lest  he  "  might  do  soui-^thing  rasl)."  The  "  rash 
something  "  he  had  already  done  —  made  Burgoyne's  surrender 
a  foregone  conclusion.  The  student  of  history,  pausing  here, 
might  well  think  a  gratefu'  people  would  erect  upon  this  scene 
of  conspicuous  triumph,  a  monument  dedicated  to  Arnold  alone. 
But  the  corner  stone  of  such  a  monument  will  never  be  laid. 
And  when  the  monument,  of  which  the  corner  stone  is  this  day 
laid,  shall  lift  its  granite  shaft  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  to- 
ward the  heavens,  there  will  be  niches  in  the  four  large  gables 
—  three  filled  with  groups  of  sculptured  bronze,  representing 
the  three  generals,  Schuyler,  Gates  and  Morgan,  the  fourth  va- 
cant, with  the  word  "Arnold  "  underneath. 

The  glory  earned  by  Arnold  at  Saratoga,  is  obliterated  by 
his  subsequent  treason,  the  reward  for  which  was  fifty  thousand 
dollars  and  the  brevet  rank  of  brigadier  in  the  British  army. 
Who  shall  estimate  his  punishment  ?  His  countrymen  exe- 
crated him.  Even  one  of  his  own  kin  could  write  the  scorching 
acrostic,  pronounced  by  Lossing  to  be  bad  poetry,  and  worse 
sentiment. " 

"  Bom  for  a  curse  to  virtue  and  mankind, 
Earth's  broadeet  realms  ne'er  knew  so  black  a  mind  ; 
Night's  sable  veil  your  crimes  can  never  hide, 
Each  one  so  great  'twould  glut  historic  tide; 
Defunct,  your  cursed  memory  shall  live, 
In  all  the  glare  that  infamy  can  give. 
;  Curses  of  ages  will  attend  your  name, 

/  Traitors  alone  will  glory  In  your  shame. 


Almighty's  vengeance  sternly  waits  to  roll 
Rivers  of  sulphur  on  your  treacherous  soul ; 
Nature  looks  shuddering  back  with  conscious  dread, 
On  such  a  tarnished  blot  as  she  has  made. 
Let  hell  receive  you,  rlvetted  in  chains, 
Doom'd  to  the  hottest  focus  of  its  flames. " 


THE  Surrender  of  Burhoyne. 


181 


And  though  he  received   British    gold   and    rank    he  was  de- 
Mpised  by  the  nation  that  bouglit  him. 

English  statesmen  refused  to  speak  In  the  House  of  Commons, 
observing  Arnold  in  the  gallery.  And  upon  one  oeeasion  when 
George  III  was  addressing  parliament,  Jienediet  Arnold  stood 
at  his  right  hand.  Lord  Lauderdale,  on  returning  to  the 
Commons,  eould  not  restrain  an  exjtression  of  his  indignation 
iiiit  his  m.ijesty  should  have  been  supported  by  a  traitor  ! 
Lord  Balcarras,  with  whom  he  almost  crossed  swords  at  Sara- 
toga, and  who  there  recognized  him  Us  a  brave  and  honorable 
foe,  spurned  an  introduction,  even  at  the  hands  of  his  sovereign, 
reniarking,  as  he  turned  upon  his  heel,  '*  I  know  General 
Arnold,  and  I  despise  traitors.  "  A  challenge  followed  from 
Arnold.  The  two  met.  They  were  to  fire  simultaneously. 
The  signal  being  given,  Arnold  discharged  his  weapon.  Lord 
Balcarras  turned  contemptuously  away  without  even  deigning 
to  aim.  "  My  lord,  "  exclaimed  Arnold,  "  why  do  you  not 
fire  ?"  "  Sir,  "  said  Lord  Balcarras,  "  I  leave  you  to  the 
executioner.  "  The  prejudice  of  English  officers  was  so  great 
that  when  he  made  application  to  serve  in  the  war  between 
England  and  France,  it  was  denied  because  they  refused  to  as- 
sociate with  him. 

Something  of  an  insight  into  Arnold's  own  feelings  may  be 
obtained  from  his  reply  to  Talleyrand,  who,  knowing  him 
simply  as  an  American,  requested  some  letters  to  some  friends 
in  his  own  country.  His  answer  was :  "  I  was  bora  m 
America,  and  have  lived  there  ;  and  I  am  the  only  man  in  the 
wide  world  who  can  raise  his  hand  to  heaven  and  say,  '  I  have 
not  one  friend  in  America  ;  no,  not  one  !  My  name  is  Bene- 
dict Arnold.' " 

The  consciousness  of  crime,  the  knowledge  of  the  loss  of  men's 
regard,  the  certainty  of  being  an  object  of  loathing,  the  stings 
and  smitings  of  conscience  are  terrible  enough,  but  an  immortal, 
tainted  memory,  is  more  terrible  still.  Throughout  ages  to 
come,  thousands  in  each  succeeding  generation  will  visit  this 
spot  to  view  the  monument  that  commemorates  the  surrender 


132 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


of  Burgoyne.     The  niche  left  vacant,  will  prompt,  forever,  tho 
question  "  why  ?"     But  one  answer  can  be  marie. 

That  niche  can  never  r(*ally  be  vacant  —  empty  to  the  sight  — 
Benedict  Arnold  will  fill  it.  There  he  will  stanu,  pilloried 
before  the  gaze  of  centuries,  ten  thousand  times  more  than  if  a 
figure  of  bronze  met  the  eye  with  the  word  "  traitor  "  stamped 
upon  it.  The  designers  of  the  monument  leave  that  vacant 
niche  from  no  fondness  in  contemplating  the  dark  crime  of 
the  traitor,  but  because  of  the  lesson  it  must  forever  teach. 
By  its  warning  may  it  help  to  enkindle  throughout  the  length 
and  breadth  of  our  land  a  love  of  country  so  fervent,  that  from 
henceforth  there  will  be  no  need  for  empty  niches  in  any 
inonuments  erected  upon  our  soil,  to  commemorate  American 
achievements.' 


1  In  striking  contrast  to  the  sentiments  of  the  acioptlc  in  the  text  is  the  following  letter, 
which,  itsel:  a  model  of  tenderne^a  and  «iniplicity.  was  written  l)y  Hannah  Arnold  to 
Benedict  Arnold,  and  has  lately  been  linnislied  me  throligh  the  iiindness  of  Hon.  Horatio 
Seymour.    The  original  is  in  the  possession  of  Miss  A.  Varick,  New  York  City.— 

[B.  W.  T.] 


N.  Haven, /wne,  1875. 

"Dear  Brotheu: 

Take  this  opportunity  pr.  Capt.  Oswald  to  congratulate  you  on  your  late  success  in  re- 
ducing Ticonderoga  and  making  yourself  muster  of  the  vessels  on  the  lakes.  Sincerely 
wish  all  your  future  endeavors  to  serve  your  country  may  be  crowned  with  equal  8U(  cess. 
Pity  the  fatigue  you  must  unavoidably  suffer  in  tlie  wildi-rness.  But  as  the  cause  is  un- 
doubtedly a  just  one  hope  you  may  have  health,  strength,  fortitude  and  valor  for  what- 
ever yon  may  be  called  to.  May  the  broad  liaiid  of  the  Almighty  overshadow  you;  and 
if  called  to  battle  may  the  God  of  armies  cover  your  liead  in  the  day  of  it.  Tia  to  Hiiu 
and  Him  only  my  dear  brother  that  we  can  look  for  safety  or  success.  His  power  is  ever 
able  to  shield  us  from  the  pestilence  that  walks  in  darkness  and  tlie  arrows  that  fly  by 
noonday.  May  a  Christian  resignation  to  His  will  strengthen  your  hands  and  fortify 
your  heart.  May  you  seek  His  aid  and  rest  your  whole  confldence  in  Him;  and  then 
you  will  have  no  fear  l)ut  t  lUt  of  oflendfng  !lim  ;  and  if  we  are  to  meet  no  more  in  time 
may  a  wise  preparation  for  eternity  secure  t  us  a  happy  meeting  in  the  realms  of  bliss, 
where  painful  sepurations  are  for  ever  excli  d.  Tlie  men  who  wmt  under  your  care  to 
Boston  give  you  the  praises  of  a  very  hum  .ae,  te:ider  ofticer.  Hope  those  now  with  you 
may  meet  with  an  equal  degree  of  tenderness  and  h'lmanity. 

Your  little  family  are  all  well.  Benedict  is  eager  to  hear  everything  relative  to  his 
pap'i.  .Mr.  Manstield,  contrary  to  all  expectation,  i.-i  again  able  to  ride  out;  and  his 
physicians  think  he  is  in  a  lir.r  way  of  recovering  a  comfortable  state  of  health.  Mr.  Har- 
rison, you  have  uiuloubteilly  heard,  i^^  dead  by  a  tit  of  the  apoplexy.  We  have  numbers 
of  iieople  daily  coming  her(>  from  N,  York  and  Boston.  Capt.  Sears,  and  Mrs.  Brown, 
and  Piatt  witli  several  other  families  from  York  are  now  here.  Tlie  world  seems  a  uni- 
versal flutter  and  hurry.  What  the  event  will  be  God  only  knows.  But  in  all  its  changes 
of  tills  I  am  certain ;  that  your  health  and  prosperity  are  dear  to  me  as  my  own. 

Your  affectionate  sister, 

Hannah  Arnold." 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


133 


Forever,  the 

the  sight  — 
lu,  pilloried 
(re  than  if  a 
ir  "  stamped 
that  vacant 
rk  crime  of 
rever  teach, 
t  the  length 
it,  that  fiom 
3hes  in  any 
te  American 


c  following  letter, 
lannah  Arnold  to 
s  of  Hon.  Horatio 
irk  City.— 

[B.  W.  T.] 

EN,  June,  1875 

ate  success  in  rc- 

lakcB.    Sincerely 

ith  equal  success. 

i  the  cause  is  un- 

l  valor  for  what- 

ihadow  you ;  and 

it.    Tia  to  Him 

His  power  is  ever 

irrows  that  fly  by 

mds  and   fortify 

Him  ;  and  then 

no  more  in  time 

realms  of  bliss, 

ii(li\r  your  care  to 

jse  now  with  you 

Z  relative  lo  his 
(!■'  out;  and  his 
health.  Mr.  H«r- 
Vo  have  numbers 
and  Mrs.  Brown, 
orld  seems  a  nni- 

in  all  its  changes 
my  own. 

sister, 
NAU  Arnold." 


H.  L.   GLADDING'S  ADDRESS. 

In  listening  to  the  eloquent  sentences  of  the  gentlemen  who 
liave  preceded  me  on  this  Centennial  occasion,  I  have  been  re- 
minded of  the  words  which  the  great  dramatist  puts  into  the 
mouth  of  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  in  reference  to  King 
Henry  V — 

"  When  he  speaks, 
The  air,  a  chartered  libertine,  is  still. 
And  the  mute  wonder  lurketh  in  men's  ears 
To  steal  his  sweet  and  honeyed  sentences." 

For  the  scenes  of  the  decisive  events  which  we  to-day  celebrate, 
and  the  deeds  of  the  brave  men  who  were  actors  in  them,  have 
been  so  graphically  portrayed  that  nothing  is  needed  to  be 
added  to  the  noble  tribute  which  has  been  here  paid  to  the 
heroes  of  October,  1777. 

It  is  said  that  on  entering  the  apartment  that  contains  the 
matchless  statue  of  the  Apollo  Belvidere,  and  standing  before 
that  most  wonderful  creation  of  human  genius,  there  is  on  the 
part  of  the  visitor  an  involuntary  straightening  up  of  the  figure, 
a  standing  erect,  and  a  feeling  that  his  own  form  dilates,  be- 
coming taller  and  nobler. 

And  so  to-day,  coming  among  these  scenes,  and  standing  upon 
this  consecrated  ground  made  forever  memorable  by  an  event 
which  gave  form  and  shape  to  the  future  destiny  of  the  young 
republic,  there  is  an  instinctive  lifting  up  of  the  soul ;  and  as 
upon  this  one  hundredth  anniversary  we  gather  to  reverence 
the  memory  of  its  heroes  and  to  call  the  roll  of  those  gallant 
men  —  Morgan,  Dearborne,  Learned,  Ten  Broeck,  Lincoln, 
Glover,  Poor,  Cilley,  Kosciusko  and  Schuyler,  and  their  no  less 
gallant  associates  in  the  ranks  —  the  men  who  took  part  in  or  who 
were  instrumental  in  bringing  about  this  glorious  consummation, 
among  whom  were  some  of  the  noblest  figures  that  ever  stood 
ill  the  forefront  of  a  nation's  life  —  we  to-day  cannot  fail  to  be 
imbued  with  something  of  the  spirit  which  animated  tliem  and 
ii  desire  to  emulate  their  noble  patriotisn.  and  their  self-sacrific- 
ing efforts. 

The  declaration  of  freedom  made  on  the  4th  of  July,  1776, 
18 


184 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


did  not  immediately  bring  forth  the  fruits  of  freedom.  Years 
of  struggle  were  necessary.  A  new-born  nation,  accustomed 
only  to  peaceful  pursuits,  without  a  standing  army,  without  a 
navy,  was  to  confront  on  many  fields  of  bloody  strife  an  old 
and  powerful  government  ;  a  government  which  through  hun- 
dreds of  years  had  been  trained  in  martial  arts,  which  had 
amassed  gieat  wealth  and  secured  vast  material  resources,  a 
nation  whose  armies  were  the  acknowledged  conquerors  of  the 
earth,  and  whose  flag  everywhere  proclaimed  her  the  mistress 
of  the  seas. 

The  year  which  followed  the  declaration  of  independence 
witnessed  little  else  than  a  series  of  disasters  to  the  cause  of  the 
colonists.  With  the  exception  of  Trenton,  Princeton  and  Ben- 
nington the  long  list  of  reverses  to  our  arms  was  almost  un- 
broken. It  was  indeed  the  most  gloomy  period  of  the  lievolution ; 
it  was  the  crisis  of  the  struggle  of  these  colonies  for  independ- 
ence. Look  at  the  sad  record  of  the  year.  First  the  defeat  of 
Putnam  on  Long  Island,  of  McDougall  at  White  Plains,  of  the 
brave  Col.  Magaw  at  Fort  Washington,  with  the  loss  of  two 
thousand  of  the  best  troops  in  the  American  army.  Then  came 
the  abandonment  of  Ticonderoga,  a  fortress  deemed  impregna- 
ble—  the  loss  of  Fort  Ann  and  Fort  Edward, —  the  defeat  at 
Hubbardton  —  the  terrible  reverse  at  Brandy  wine  —  the  defeat 
of  the  impetuous  Wayne  at  Paoli  —  of  Washington  himself  at 
Gerraantown —  and  the  loss  of  Forts  Clinton  and  Montgomery. 
The  mere  mention  of  these  names  brings  to  our  minds  continued 
scenes  of  gloom  and  suffering.  For  the  greater  part  of  the  time 
during  these  sad  months,  from  August,  1776,  to  October,  1777, 
our  army,  reduced  in  numbers,  depressed  by  defeat,  exhausted 
by  fatigue,  naked,  barefoot,  de>»*'tute  of  tents,  and  with  scanty 
provisions,  was  fleeing  before  a  triumphant  enemy,  who  was 
well  appointed  and  abundantly  supplied.  And,  worse  than  all, 
the  continued  triumphs  of  the  British  had  produced  a  common 
apprehension  (in  the  minds  of  the  people  of  the  middle  states  at 
least,  if  not  generally),  that  any  further  struggle  would  be  use- 
less and  that  this  country  must  eventually  return  to  her  allegi- 
ance to  Great  Britain. 


i  ■ 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


135 


But  this  long  and  gloomy  night  of  defeat  and  disaster  was 
about  to  pass  away,  and  joy  and  a  new  hope  was  to  spring 
up  in  the  heart  of  this  people  in  the  bright  morning  of  victory. 

The  conflict  of  October  7th,  1777,  was  to  demonstrate  the 
fact  that  the  Continental  armies  were  able  to  meet  the  martial 
hosts  of  Britain  and  her  mercenaries  in  the  open  field,  and  to 
scatter  them  as  the  dead  leaves  of  the  forest  before  a  mighty 
wind.  As  the  armies  of  ancient  Israel,  under  divine  guidance, 
were  to  overcome  their  enemies,  however  great  in  numbers  or 
skilled  in  war,  so  under  the  direction  of  the  God  of  battles  were 
our  fathers  upon  these  fields  to  overcome  the  proud  and  power- 
ful hosts  of  Great  Britain. 

We  have  heard  to-day  in  glowing  words  the  story  of  Saratoga. 
Masters  of  the  art  have  pictured  i,r»  us  the  scenes  and  incidents 
of  the  campaign,  which  its  projectors  believed  would  end 
in  the  complete  subjection  of  the  colonies  to  the  mother  country. 
We  have  seen  the  British  general  on  his  triumphant  march  from 
Canada,  fortress  after  fortress  falling  an  easy  prey  into  his 
hands.  We  have  seen  the  hosts  of  England  crossing  the  Hud- 
son and  for  the  first  time  planting  their  feet  upon  the  soil  of 
old  Saratoga.  We  have  seen  Burgoyne's  army  in  holiday  attire, 
with  drums  beating  and  colors  flying,  with  furbished  arms 
glistening  in  the  sunlight,  marching  to  what  they  believed 
would  be  an  assured  victory.  We  have  seen  that  on  the  19th 
of  September,  this  proud  army  for  the  first  time  learned  that 
their  march  to  Albany  was  not  to  be  a  holiday  pastime.  We 
have  seen  the  conflict  that  day  waged  on  both  sides  with  des- 
perate valor,  a  conflict  that  was  only  closed  by  the  mantle  of 
night  falling  over  the  scene. 

Then  we  have  been  brought  face  to  face  with  the  second  act 
in  this  terrible  drama.  We  have  seen  the  British  army,  brought 
to  bay  on  the  memorable  7th  of  October,  making  a  last  desperate 
effort  to  cut  its  way  through  the  ranks  of  the  opposing  forces, 
in  the  hope  to  join  Sir  Henry  Clinton  upon  the  lower  Hudson. 

But  it  was  not  so  to  be.  General  Burgoyne,  who  on  the  6th 
of  August,  wrote  so  confidently  to  General  Howe,  "  I  shall  be 
in  possession  of  Albany  on  the  22d  or  23d,"  was  indeed  to  be 


136 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


there  only  a  little  more  than  two  months  later,  not  however  as 

he  had  anticipated,  in  the  royal  robes  of  a  conqueror,  but  in  the 

sackcloth  of  a  prisoner  of  war.     Alas  !  the  sanguine  general 

forgot  the  proverb  — 

"  The  man  who  once  did  sell  the  lion's  skin 
While  the  beast  lived,  was  killed  with  hunting  him." 

And  so  on  the  7th  of  October,  \111,  the  sun  went  down  upon 
the  leagued  hosts  of  Britain  and  Germany  discomtitted,  scattered, 
overthrown  ;  and  these  hosts,  with  seeming  judicial  blindness, 
not  availing  themselves  of  their  last  hope,  a  speedy  retreat,were 
compelled  only  ten  days  later,  upon  this  immediate  spot,  under 
the  starry  flag,  then  first  thrown  to  the  breeze  of  heaven,  to 
surrender  to  the  hitherto  despised  army  of  the  colonics. 

"  To  the  sages  who  ppoke,  to  the  heroes  who  bled, 

To  I  he  day  and  the  deed  strike  the  harp-strings  of  glory; 
Let  the  songs  of  the  ransomed  remember  the  dead. 

And  the  tongue  of  the  eloquent  hallow  the  story ; 
O'er  the  bones  of  the  bold  be  the  story  long  tola, 

And  on  fame's  golden  tablets  their  triumphs  enrolled. 
Who  on  freedom's  green  hills  freedom's  banner  unfurled, 

And  the  beacon  fire  raised  that  gave  light  to  the  world." 

As  the  great  law  giver  of  ancient  Israel  was  permitted  from 
the  top  of  Pisgah  to  look  over  into  the  promised  land  which 
was  soon  to  become  the  possession  of  the  Jewish  people,  .so 
from  these  green  heights  one  hundred  years  ago  were  our  fathers 
enabled  to  see  in  the  near  future  the  Canaan  of  freedom  spread- 
ing out  in  all  its  radiant  beauty  before  them,  and  as  the  leader 
of  the  chosen  people  rejoiced  over  the  prospect  of  the  promised 
inheritance  of  his  followers,  so  did  our  revolutionary  sires  in 
that  glad  hour  rejoice  that  the  reward  of  all  their  toils  was  be- 
fore them.  And  all  over  the  colonies  the  full  hearts  of  strong 
men  ovei-flowed  with  gratitude  and  went  up  to  heaven  on  wings 
of  praise  to  that  God  who  had  given  them  the  victory. 

And  there  was  to  be  rejoicing  elsewhere  over  this  great  event, 
our  friends  abroad  must  speedily  learn  of  this  glorious  success. 
So  the  good  news  goes  forth,  and  the  manner  in  which  this  news 
is  received  in  Europe  clearly  shows  that  there,  as  well  as  here,  the 
event  of  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne's  army  was  rega''ded  as  deci- 
sive of  the  final  result.    "A  fast  sailing  vessel  is  prepared  and  a 


THE  Surrender  of  Burqoyne. 


137 


however  as 
r,  but  in  the 
ine  general 


im," 

down  upon 
d,  scattered, 
il  blindness, 
retreat,wero 
spot,  under 
heaven,  to 
nif  8. 


•mitted  from 
land  which 
1  people,  .so 
e  our  fathers 
idora  spread- 
is  the  leader 
he  promised 
tiary  sires  in 
toils  was  be- 
ts of  strong 
en  on  wings 
ory. 
great  event, 
ions  success, 
ich  this  news 
1  as  here,  the 
'•ded  as  deci- 
epared  and  a 


special  messenger  goes  to  carry  the  tidings  to  France,  the  natural 
ally  of  the  young  republic.  The  messenger  crosses  the  ocean, 
arrives  at  Paris,  and  pushes  on  rapidly  to  Dr.  Franklin's  residence 
at  Passay;  but  swiftly  as  he  goes  a  rumor  of  tlu-  arrival  of  im- 
portant news  precedes  .him,  and  on  his  arrival  at  Passay  he  finds 
the  whole  circle  of  official  Americans  there,  who,  as  the  noise 
of  his  carriage  is  heard,  liurry  out  to  meet  him.  Before  he  has 
time  to  alight  Dr.  Franklin  cries  out :  '  Sir,  is  Philadelphia 
taken  ?'  '  Yes,'  replies  the  messenger,  '  but  I  have  greater 
news  than  that,  Gen:  Burgoyne  and  his  whole  army  are  prisoners 
of  war?'  The  effect  was  thrilling,  electrical,  overwhelming, 
indescribable."  In  a  few  days  all  Europe  rang  with  the  ncM-^s, 
and  except  the  tory  party  and  the  holders  of  English  stocks  all 
Europe  rejoiced  at  it.  France  immediately  threw  off  the  veil 
with  which  she  had  endeavored  to  conceal  her  intentions  and 
notified  the  British  government  that  she  had  concluded  a  treaty 
of  alliance,  friendship  and  commerce  wiih  the  American  states. 
On  the  18th  of  December,  only  sixty  days  after  the  surrender 
of  Burgoyne,  M.  Gerard  informed  the  American  commissioners 
that,  after  mature  deliberation,  his  majesty  Louis  XVI,  had 
determined  to  recognize  the  independence  of  the  United 
States,  and  that  he  would  not  only  recognize  it,  but  would 
support  it  wit/  all  the  means  in  his  power.  And  the  deeds 
of  this  great  nation  proved  the  honesty  of  her  words  ;  her 
material  aid  was  prompt  and  effective.  The  French  govern- 
ment--which  had  at  that  time  a  navy  that  equalled  if  it  did 
not  exceed  Great  Britain's  —  at  once  fitted  out  a  squadron  under 
Count  D'Estaing,  which  in  the  spring  of  17 78  sailed  for  the 
United  States. 

In  England  the  alarm  created  by  the  tidings  of  Burgoyne's 
surrender  was  increased  by  the  still  more  fatal  news  that  the 
disaster  had  roused  the  Bourbon  courts  to  avenge  the  humilia- 
tion of  the  seven  years'  war.  The  most  brilliant  success  had 
been  expected  in  the  campaign,  the  most  ignominious  result  had 
occurred  ;  the  pride  of  the  British  nation  was  humbled,  and 
those  who  had  disapi)roved  of  the  war  poured  upon  the  ministry 
a  torrent  of  invective.     The  Duke  of  Richmond  and  a  large 


138 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


number  of  whigs  openly  advocated  the  acknowledgment  of  Ame- 
rican independence.  That  noble  man  and  true  friend  of  the 
colonies,  Lord  Chatham,  in  the  British  parliament  pressed  for 
peace,  saying  with  prophetic  ken,  "  You  can  never  conquer  Ame- 
rica, never,  never,  never  !"  When  we  remember  that  six  months 
after  this  that  great  man  breathed  his  last,  we  may  conclude  that 

"  The  Bunset  of  life  gave  him  mystical  lore, 
And  coming  events  cast  their  shadows  before." 

Even  in  the  minds  of  the  British  ministry  all  hope  of  con- 
quering America  had  disappeared.  Under  these  circumstances 
the  cabinet  determined  to  grant  to  the  colonies  all  that  they  had 
demanded  at  the  beginning  of  the  contest.  Two  bills  of  a 
pacific  character  were  passed  by  parliament,  one  of  which  pro- 
hibited any  further  imposition  of  taxes  upon  the  colonies,  and 
commissioners  were  sent  to  America  to  effect  a  reconciliation. 
But  it  was  too  late,  the  Rubicon  had  been  passed.  Congress 
refused  to  treat  with  the  commissioners  until  Great  Britain 
should  withdraw  her  fleets  and  armies  or  acknowledge  the  in- 
dependence of  these  states. 

Had  it  not  been  for  the  insane  obstinacy  >f  one  man,  the  close 
of  the  year  1777  would  have  witnessed  the  acknowledgment  on 
the  part  of  Great  Britain  of  American  independence.  But  King 
George  III  was  not  ready  to  acknowledge  the  inevitable.  The 
monarch  who  in  1774  had  vauntingly  said,  "Four  regiments 
will  be  sufficient  to  bring  the  Americans  to  their  senses,"  was 
not  quite  prepared  to  acknowledge  his  mistake.  The  obstinacy 
of  the  king,  which  was  only  equalled  by  his  ignorance  and 
vulgarity,  was  clearly  shown  in  the  terms  which  he  proposed 
to  Germaine  (Lord  Shelburne)  upon  his  accession  to  office  as 
state  secretary.  The  king  said  to  Germaine,  I  will  be  plain 
with  you  ;  tlie  point  next  my  heart,  and  which  I  am  determined 
never  to  relinquish  but  with  my  crown  and  life,  is  to  prevent  a 
total  unequivocal  recognition  of  the  independence  of  America," 
and  he  added,  "  promise  to  support  me  in  this  matter  and  I  will 
leave  you  unmolested  in  every  other  and  with  full  power  as  the 
prime  minister  of  this  kingdom." 

Upon  this  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  great  event  which 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


139 


inses,     was 


vent  which 


more  than  any  other  event  of  the  Revolution  led  the  way  to  the 
practical  realization  of  American  independence,  we  take  the 
first  steps  to  commemorate  the  decisive  deed.  It  is  proposed 
upon  this  corner  stone  to  erect  a  shaft  which  in  its  colossal  pro- 
portions and  stately  grandeur  shall  fitly  tell  to  coming  ages  the 
story  of  the  glorious  deeds  of  October,  1777. 

The  noblest  obelisk  now  upon  the  soil  of  America  is  that  one 
which  rears  its  top  heavenward  from  the  crest  of  Bunker  Hill. 
It  is  indeed  a  grand  structure,  worthy  of  the  gallant  deeds  it 
commemorates  and  of  the  noble  state  upon  whose  bosom  it  rests. 

But  if  there  is  a  spot  in  all  this  broad  land,  from  the  waves 
of  the  stormy  Atlantic  to  the  shores  of  the  mild  Pacific,  upon 
which  should  be  erected  an  enduring  monument  with  a  broader 
base  and  more  lofty  proportions  than  all  others  it  is  here  upon 
these  consecrated  heights  of  old  Saratoga,  where  our  fathers 
taught  the  chivalry  of  England  and  the  pride  of  Britain's 
soldiery  that  in  a  righteous  cause  they  were  invincible,  and 
where  the  world  learned  the  lesson  that  these  united  colonies 
were  destined  to  be,  as  they  of  right  ought  to  be,  free  and  in- 
dependent states. 

Let  the  people  of  the  Empire  state  see  to  it  that  the  stain 
wbich  has  hitherto  rested  upon  her  proud  escutcheon,  in  failing 
to  recognize  and  honor  these  great  events,  is  speedily  effaced. 
Let  them  see  to  it  that  neither  the  tardiness  of  legislation  nor 
the  opposition  of  the  executive  is  allowed  longer  to  hinder  this 
laudable  work.  The  great  state  of  New  York  owes  it  to  her- 
self in  this  matter  to  at  once  refute  the  libel  which  asserts  the 
ingratitude  of  republics.  "  It  is  time  to  arise  and  build  !"  and 
the  good  work  commenced  let  it  go  steadily  on  to  full  comple- 
tion. Let  this  monument  ascend  in  its  simple  grandeur  until 
the  top  stone  shall  be  b"  ught  forth  with  shoutings  of  grace, 
grace  r.nto  it.  The  men  of  Massachusetts  commenced  the  shaft 
on  Bunker  Hill,  but  they  left  the  work  for  the  women  of  Massa- 
chusetts to  complete.  All  honor  to  the  noble  women  of  the 
old  Bay  state  for  their  high  purpose,  their  indomitable  resolu- 
tion, their  unwavering  faith.  But  whether  it  shall  be  the  men 
of  New  York  who  shall  do  this  work,  or  whether  by  their  failure 


140 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


it  shall  become  necessary  for  the  noble,  patriotic  women  of  this 
great-  state  to  assume  the  responsibility,  the  work  will  go  on, 
this  monument  will  surely  be  built. 

And,  as  was  said  by  Mr.  Webster  in  regard  to  Bunker  Hill 
monument  so  let  the  people  say  in  regard  to  the  Saratoga 
monument,  "  let  it  rise  until  it  meets  the  sun  in  his  coming  ;  let 
the  first  rays  of  the  morning  gild  it  and  the  last  beams  of  ex- 
piring day  linger  and  play  upon  its  summit." 


A.  A.  YATES'S  ADDRESS. 

This  is  a  strange  as  well  as  memorable  place.  Though  here  a 
mighty  republican  empire  was  born,  and  here  kingly  rule  met 
its  death-blow,  the  precise  spot  where  a  ceremony  occurred  that 
was  the  pageantry  of  a  nation's  birth,  is  yet  the  subject  of  de- 
bate and  discussion.  Men  have  wandered  over  meadow  and 
through  ravine,  by  brookside  and  river,  to  seek  in  some  strag- 
gling patch  of  earthwork,  some  excavation  that  looks  like  a 
rifle  pit,  for  the  convincing  proof  of  the  place  where  John  Bur- 
goyne  made  his  last  parade.  The  memories  of  those  gone  be- 
fore us  have  been  called  up,  that  the  testimony  of  the  dead 
might  set  at  rest  the  doubts  of  the  living — the  aid  of  nature 
invoked,  that  her  speaking  face  should  show  us  the  way  c  •  give 
some  landmark  that  should  stand  like  a  way-side  shrine  btside 
the  place  whei-e  a  heroic  deed  was  done,  or  gleam  like  a  star 
over  the  spot  where  a  hundred  years  ago  the  young  child  of 
liberty  lay. 

Marvelous  indeed  is  it  that,  though  the  splendid  achievement 
which  this  monument  shall  commemorate,  is  so  young  that  its 
record  has  but  just  become  impartial  history —  so  far  from  old 
in  the  world's  story  that  it  has  no  right  to  put  on  the  silver 
crown  of  tradition  —  yet  the  visible  signs  of  it  are  as  indistinct 
as  the  dust  and  ashes  in  the  Englishman's  coffin  —  as  untrace- 
able as  the  Hessian's  level  grave.  Embankment  and  fortress, 
earthwork  and  embrasure  have  been  flattened  by  the  hundred 
heavy  hands  of  the  century,  or  ploughed  and  riven  and  harrowed 
out  of  all  resemblance  to  war  by  the  husbandman  of  peace. 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


141 


We  believe  we  are  standing  now  where  we  should  be,  on  the 
sacred  spot  where  our  fathers  stood  in  the  happy  hour  of  their 
triumph  —  that  the  white  spire  shall  glisten  in  the  morning  like 
a  finger  pointing  upward  from  the  very  place  where  they  raised 
their  country  from  despair  to  faith,  that  it  shall  lay  its  shadow 
at  evening  along  the  pathway  where  the  brave  man  walked  to 
give  up  his  sword  to  braver  men. 

We  have  in  times  gone  by  cared  but  little  to  know  of  the 
earlier  days.  In  our  splendid  progress  the  eyes  of  a  people,  the 
youngest  on  e^rth,  have  been  earnestly  gazing  into  the  future. 
The  centennial  has  come  upon  us  with  a  bound.  Startled  — 
surprised,  in  our  young  manhood,  this  magnificent  young  giant 
of  a  Republic  halts,  astonished  at  its  strength,  marveling  at  its 
own  progress.  With  all  our  conscious  power — our  free,  young 
healthy  life,  there  comes  over  us  a  sense  of  deep  and  lasting 
gratitude,  a  feeling  of  unutterable  and  thankful  reverence  for 
the  grand  and  sturdy  ancestors,  whose  stubborn,  stalwart  hero- 
ism on  fields  like  this  made  free  the  land  we  love.  And  wo 
pause  in  unspeakable  sorrow  to  reflect,  that  while  England 
knows  just  where  King  John  stood  six  centuries  ago  when  he 
surrendered  to  a  favored  few  the  rights  of  freemen,  that  while 
the  Irishman  knows  just  where  his  countryman  won  imperish- 
able renown  at  Fontenoy,  and  Prussia  can  show  just  where  the 
great  Frederic  won  his  most  splendid  victory,  we  are  arguing 
as  to  which  side  of  the  stream  it  was  where  ne  Lord  of  Eng- 
land discovered  in  sorrow  and  defeat  that  he  could  not  be  mas- 
ter of  America.  We  shall  take  better  care  of  history  in  the 
future  ! 

We  are  gathered  to-day,  some  of  us  children's  children  of  the 
very  men  who  stood  here  a  hundred  years  ago,  all  representing 
different  shades  of  political  belief  and  social  life  —  every  one  of 
us  just  like  the  men  conquered  here  —  brethren  of  the  same  loyal 
faith  in  our  beloved  land  —  fellow  citizens  united  in  one  com- 
mon sentiment  that  overshadows  all  others. 

And  we  are  looking  back  with  intense  interest  upon  the  pan- 
orama that  passed  in  review  before  the  world's  eye  just  a  cen- 
tury ago.     Thanks  to  one  historic  artist  who  has  hunted  up  the 

19 


142 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


old  picture  from  the  national  garret,  given  over  in  our  thought- 
lessness to  rust  and  decay,  as  useless  incumbrance  and  by  the 
touch  of  restoring  genius  has  given  it  to  us  in  all  its  brilliant 
hues  we  can  see  it  distinctly. 

Who  are  we  that  look  upon  it :  democrats  and  republicans? 
No  ;  a  thousand  times,  No  !  Old  revolutionary  whigs  !  Not 
a  tory  or  the  son  of  a  tory  among  us  ! 

Are  we  conjecturing  who  shall  be  governor  next  year,  presi- 
dent two  years  after  ;  who  shall  be  postmaster  of  Saratoga  or 
town  clerk  of  Stillwater  ?  Are  we  longf aced  or  tjhuckling  over 
the  election  returns  from  Ohio  ? 

Thank  heaven  !  No.  We  are  all  with  one  accord  doing 
homage  to  those  who  made  presidents  and  governors  possible, 
and  filled  honored  graves  before  little  Ohio  was  born. 

What  a  grand  spectacle  it  is  and  what  a  strange  picture  it 
presents  ! 

On  either  side,  drawn  up  in  parallel  lines  stand  the  conquer- 
ors, in  every  style  of  garment,  with  every  hue  of  dress  known 
to  the  man  of  a  hundred  years  ago.  Not  decked  for  a  holiday 
parade  —  this  is  the  first  they  have  had  for  many  a  weary 
month  and  the  smell  of  the  fire  of  Bemis's  Heights  is  yet  upon 
their  garments,  the  stain  of  Stillwater  powder  on  their  bronzed 
faces.  Here  and  there  perhaps  a  uniform  of  blue  and  buff, 
powdered  hair,  shining  boots  and  showy  laces  on  neck  and  wrist, 
mark  the  stylish  oflicer  whose  pride  is  as  mighty  as  his  bravery. 
On  the  left  the  faded  green  and  yellow  of  Morgan's  riflemen. 
Let  us  recognize  them  with  applause.  They  came  from  under 
a  southern  sky  to  rush  beside  their  northern  brethren  against 
their  common  enemy.  We  trust  in  a  good  providence  that  is 
making  their  descendants  our  brethren  once  more,  that  their 
children  will  never  again  be  found  anywhere  else. 

And  who  are  these  who  march  between  the  lines  ? 

Lords  and  gentlemen,  the  pet  and  flower  of  the  English  army 
glittering  in  epauleted  splendor,  flaring  in  scarlet  and  gold, 
downcast,  sullen,  disappointed  brave  men,  put  down  by  the  iron 
will  and  resolute  valor  of  men  who  with  home  behind  them  and 
home  in  their  hearts  no  army  could  subdue. 


THE  Surrender  of  Burqoyne. 


148 


And  who  are  these  who  wear  neither  English  dress,  nor  Eng- 
lish faces,  at  the  sight  of  whom  the  colonist  grows  stern  and 
hard  in  face  and  at  whom  he  mutters  a  smothered  curse.  These 
are  they  left  of  those  whom  John  Stark  hunted  up  hill  and  down 
dale,  who,  driven  through  ravine  and  underbrush  and  hounded 
like  beasts  of  prey,  thank  the  Lord  for  their  rest  at  lust,  the 
hireling  Hessians  learning  the  lesson  yet  taught  to-day  that  he 
who  serves  the  cause  of  wrong  for  place  or  money  will  sooner 
or  later  in  this  broad  land  of  ours  find  not  rest  for  the  crown  of 
his  head  or  the  sole  of  his  foot. 

Within  sight  of  the  strange  scene,  the  commanders  of  either 
army  —  the  one  massive  and  haughty,  the  very  type  of  his  pow- 
erful nation  beyond  the  sea,  the  other  shorter,  plainly  dressed, 
rugged  of  face  —  look  upon  the  scene. 

Within  sound  of  the  rejoicing  is  the  displaced  commander 
whose  patient  courage  and  brave  soul  was  but  illy  rewarded 
when  the  laurel  of  victory  was  snatched  from  his  grasp. 
Within  sight  of  the  lovely  village  that  bears  his  honored  name 
posterity  in  this  hour  of  commemoration  does  full  and  ample 
justice  to  the  courage  and  valor  and  magnanimity  of  Philip 
Schuyler. 

Another  was  absent  from  the  place  where  the  fruits  of  his 
rash  mad  bravery  were  to  be  gathered.  Smarting  from  the 
wound  that  gave  him  more  mental  suffering  than  bodily  pain, 
when  it  took  him  from  the  sight  of  his  humiliated  enemy,  the 
then  gallant  soldier  was  fretting  and  fuming,  his  impetuous, 
fiery  and  turbulent  nature  chained  down  upon  a  couch  of 
agony. 

Would  to  heaven  that  after  the  19th  of  September  the  histor- 
ian had  no  more  to  record  of  Benedict  Arnold.  A  hundred 
years  ago  this  day  this  land  of  ours  ni)ig  with  his  praises  and 
gloried  in  his  splendid  name.  To-day  the  sculptor,  in  obedience 
to  a  merciful  command,  permits  the  blank  unchiseled  tablet  to 
be  expressionless  in  the  story  of  his  shame, —  to  be  faceless  and 
formless,  that  his  face  and  form  may  be  hidden  from  the  peo- 
ple he  betrayed,  that  the  sculptured  silence  above  his  name  shall 
mutely  tell  of  the  undeserved  forbearance,  the  unfeigned  sor- 
row of  posterity. 


144 


Centennial  Celebration  op 


P. 


There  were  mellow  lights  and  gloomy  shadows  in  the  clays 
that  followed  —  the  land  was  chequered  with  the  brightness 
and  gloom  of  victory  and  disaster,  bnt  now  in  the  broad  light 
of  history  that  streams  upon  this  place  in  this,  the  meridian  of 
our  national  greatness,  we  know  that  the  morning  of  our  de- 
liverance broke  upon  us  here  —  and  there  is  no  place  on  earth 
where  the  monumental  tribute  of  a  nation's  pride  co\dd  more 
fitly  be  placed,  to  stamp  the  soil  with  a  people's  unforgetting 
gratitude  and  crown  it  with  the  mausoletim  of  its  heroic  deeds. 

What  a  splendid  lesson  was  handed  down  by  the  men  of  that 
stern  day  to  the  men  of  this,  written  all  over  the  long  miles 
that  were  trodden  down  by  the  feet  of  contending  armies  then, 
that  are  brilliant  with  the  victories  of  peace  to-day  ! 

Nations,  so  runs  the  story  of  the  world,  must  be  born  like 
man  in  pain  and  travail.  But  to  march  on  in  progressive  great- 
ness there  must  be  years  of  peace  on  earth,  good  will  to  men. 
This  vast  battle  field  has  been  restored  to  the  farmer,  not  by 
the  hand  of  science  nor  by  the  level  of  the  engineer.  Military 
genius  has  not  flattened  the  earthwork  which  military  genius 
reared.  Long  years  of  patient  labor  has  made  the  battle  wil- 
derness to  bloom,  the  seamed  and  scarred  ravine  to  blossom 
with  the  fruits  of  the  better  days  of  peace.  In  the  fate  of  him 
whose  splendid  courage  and  restless  genius  was  the  life  and 
soul  of  yonder  battle  for  the  rights  of  the  people,  let  the  sel- 
fishness that  prostitutes  the  country's  good  to  gratify  the  pas- 
sion of  personal  resentment,  or  subserve  personal  ambition, 
take  a  solemn  warning.  No  glitter  of  splendid  achievement 
on  field  or  forum  will  reconcile  the  people  of  this  land  to  the 
betrayal  of  the  people's  lasting  good  for  the  price  of  money,  for 
office  or  for  sectional  hatred  and  the  president,  senator  or  sol- 
dier who  forgets  this  lesson  may  remember  it  in  horror  in  a 
fall  like  Arnold's. 

It  was  shoulder  to  shoulder,  with  the  touch  of  elbow  that 
brought  the  conquerors  through  many  red  days  of  carnage  to 
this  place  of  triumph.  It  was  the  northern  and  the  southern 
soldier  who  fought  the  fight  for  the  good  of  the  whole  people. 
It  is  in  the  Union  created  Oct.  17th,  1777,  it  is  in  the  Union  re- 


THE  SURRENDEK  OP  BuRGOYN" 


145 


stored  October  17,  1877,  that  by  the  blessing  of  God  this  go- 
vernment of  the  people,  by  the  people  and  for  the  people,  Hhall 
not  perish  from  the  earth. 

Let  then  this  monument  rise  till  it  meets  the  sun  in  its  com- 
ing, whose  first  rays  lingering  on  Mount  Willard  to  gild  the 
spot  where  the  faithful  sentry  stood,  shall  glitter  atid  play  upon 
its  summit,  (irand  and  everlasting,  its  solid  firmness  shall  com- 
memorate the  faith  of  those  who  stood  as  proudly  here  one  hun- 
dred years  ago  and  per[)etuate  the  memory  of  those  whose  dust 
has  been  traceless  for  a  century  within  sight  of  its  spire.  Let 
the  last  rays  of  the  evening  fasten  its  shade  on  the  pathway  our 
fathers  walked  amid  the  ringing  praises  of  their  grateful  coun- 
trymen. 

Let  us  all  come  closer  together  beneath  its  base.  We  too 
have  had  our  sorrows  We  have  had  our  killed  in  battle.  We 
have  the  mourners  who  go  about  our  streets  —  we  have  the 
widow  and  the  fatherless  —  we  have  our  poor  in  heart. 

The  evening  of  our  first  century  has  been  red  as  theirs  with 
the  scarlet  tinge  of  blood.  Webster's  awful  foreboding  has 
been  realized.  The  land  has  been  rent  with  civil  discord  and 
drenched  with  fraternal  blood,  but  we,  like  the  men  who 
gathered  here,  have  had  our  triumph  and  heart-elating  victory, 
and  we  can  thank  the  God  of  our  fathers  that  the  statesman's  as- 
piration has  been  realized,  that  the  new  flag  first  unfolded  here, 
waves  over  a  land  happy,  free  and  prosperous,  that  there  is  in- 
scribed upon  it  no  such  motto  as  "  what  is  all  this  worth"  or  that 
other  miserable  inscription, "  Liberty  now  and  Union  after- 
wards," but  written  all  over  its  bright  folds  as  it  floats  over 
the  land  and  over  the  sea  those  other  memorable  words, 
"Liberty  and  Union  now  and  forever,  one  and  inseparable," 


146 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


li 


GENERAL  J.  WATTS  De  PEYSTER'S  ODE, 

Read  by  Rev.  D.  K.  Van  Doren. 

THE  SURRENDER  OF  BURGOYNE,  "  SARATOG,"  17th 

OCTOBER,  1777. 

Brothers,  this  spot  is  holy  !  —  Look  around  !  — 

Before  us  riows  our  mem'ry's  sacred  river. 
Whose  banlis  are  Freedom's  Shrines.    Tliis  grassy  mound. 

The  altar,  on  whose  height  the  Mighty  Giver 
Gave  Independence  to  our  country  ;  when, 
Thanks  to  its  brave,  enduring,  patient  men. 
The  invading  host  was  brought  to  bay,  and  laid 
Beneath  "Old  Glory's"  new  born  folds,  the  blade, 
The  bra/  '1  thunder-throats,  the  pomp  of  war, 
And  Engiind's  yoke,  broken  forever  more. 

Like  a  destroying  angel,  Burgoyne's  host 
Burst  through  Ticonderoga'a  bulwarks,  hoary  ; 

And  flaming  wrecks,  wide  ruin  'long  its  coast, 
Renew'd  past  awful  scenes  of  Champlain's  story. 

When  France's  Lilies  dy'd  themselves  in  blood. 

Floated  to  triumph  on  Algonquin  flood  — 

Made  William  Henry's  siege  a  tale  of  horror  — 

Made  Abercrombie's  failure  land- wide  sorrow. 

Like  many  conflicts  though  right  bravely  fought  — 

The  only  comfort  was  by  Schuyler  brought. 

Our  frontier  people  shrunk  before  tlie  scare  ; ' 

The  load  was  left  for  Schuyler  'lone  to  bear. 

And  how  he  bore  it,  now,  at  length,  we  know  ; 
How  steadfastly  he  damm'd  the  crimson  tide  ; 
Baflled  and  stopp'd  the  five-fold  stronger  foe ; ' 


'  The  scare  or  panic  which  succeeded  the  first  appearance  ot  Bnrjfoyne  was  of  the 
same  character  with  that  whicli  sliooit  the  whole  country  after  Bull  Run  First,  2l8t  of 
July,  1861,  and  was  equally  causeless ,  The  people  recovered  from  it  much  qulclcer  in 
1777  than  In  1881,  for  Oriskany  and  its  rich  harvest,  due  to  Schuyler,  which  brolce  the  spell, 
was  fought  exactly  one  month  to  a  day  after  the  fall  of  Ticonderoga,  whereas  the  victory 
won  by  General  Thomas,  the  Schuyler  of  the  Slaveholders'  Rebellion,  at  Mill  Spring 
which  taught  the  North  that,  under  an  honest  and  abU;  leader,  theirs  were  the  best  men, 
was  not  achieved  until  the  19th  of  January,  1862,  six  months  after  the  first  battle  of  Bull 
Run. 

»  Allen  says  Schuyler  did  not  have  over  1,000  men  at  Fort  Edward,  and  even  after  he 
got  down  to  Hulf-Moon,  it  would  appear  that  the  majority  of  his  troops  were  boys,  old 
men,  negroes  and  pnrticolorcd.  If  the  real  truth  could  be  reached,  there  is  very  little 
question  but  that  proof  exists  that  Burgoyne  had  over  10,000  men,  regulars,  provincials 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


147 


)DE, 


5,"  17th 


lound, 


toyne  was  of  the 

lun  First,  2l8t  of 

Imuch   quicker  in 

Ich  broke  the  spell, 

IhercnB  the  victory 

li,  at  Mill  Spring 

l^ere  the  best  men, 

IrBt  battle  of  Bull 

J  and  even  after  he 
Ips  were  boye,  old 
iiere  is  very  little 
knlare,  provincials 


To  timid  couusels  hero  strength  supplied. 
Burgoyne  victorious,  ere  he  left  Champlain, 
Startled  preceiv'd  his  brilliant  prospects  wane; 
Saw  in  the  Lion's  path  a  Nimrod  stand ; 
Saw  all  his  mighty  projects  counterplann'd ; 
Ere  Burgoyne  reached  the  Hudson,  fast  empaign'd 
In  Schuyler's  grasp,  he  felt  he  was  "  Burgoyn'd." 

O  mighty  soul !  —  by  envious  souls  decried, 

New  York's  great  son  in  giant  height  now  stands ; 
Arguf  to  watch,  Ulysses  to  decide, 

Gath'ring  resources  with  Briarean  bands. 
His  the  victorious  field  Uarkheimer  made 
St.  Leger's  foil,  stopp'd  Johnson's  tiger  raid ; 
Fort  Stanwix  sav'd,  the  Mohawk  valley  sav'd  — 
Was  all  his  work,  who  coward  couusels  brav'd  ; 
Stak'd  honor,  fortune,  all,  upon  the  throw, 
So  by  the  cast  he  beat  his  country's  foe  ;  , 

Oriskany  is  due  to  New  York's  son ; 
Likewise  to  Schuyler's  brain  is  Bennington, 
Fought  on  our  own  state  soil,  ou  Hoosic's  hill, 
Vict'ries  tl^at  yet  the  nation's  pulses  thrill. 
At  length  Burgoyne,  the  hauyhty,  brought  to  bay 

At  Saratoga  knew  our  country's  might ; 
At  Freeman's  Farm  saw  triumph  fade  away; 

Saw  Hope  itself  take  wings  on  Bemis  Height. 
Barr'd,  baffled,  beaten,  crippled,  short  of  food, 
In  vain  his  craft,  his  vet'ran  multitude. 
Caught  in  the  toils  through  which  he  could  not  break, 
Chain'd  like  a  victim  to  the  fatal  stake 
Just  where  we  stand  —  thanks  to  Sabbaoth's  Lord 
Boasting  Burgoyne  gave  up  his  vet'ran  sword. 

Here  Albion's  battle  flag,  which,  round  the  world. 
Following  the  sun  at  morning-gun  's  unfurl'd, 
Here,  where  we  stand,  the  crucial  flag  of  Mars 
Stoop'd,  in  surrender,  to  our  Stripes  and  Stars 
Where  at  an  army's  head,  was  first  display'd 
Our  Starry  Flag  with  triumph's  halo  ray'd. 


or  loyalists,  Caniidians  and  Indians,  when  he  utarted  on  this  cj^pedition.  He  himsclt 
admits  7,868  men.  Schuyler  at  Fort  Edward,  when  l.urpoyne  was  within  twenty-one 
miles  of  him,  had  only  1,5U0  miserably  fiiruisliud  troopH.  Burgoyne  surrendered,  valtda 
and  invalids,  5,763  nifn  to  Gates,  who  huu,  bisides  litalf,  buleau-men,  artilicers,  etc.,  a 
force  numbering  18,Ui24,  according  to  olUciai  returns.  Gov.  and  Gen.  C'liuton  of  New 
York  estimated  the  forces  of  Gen.  Gates  at  between  38,000  and  S4,000  armed  men. 


148 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


If. 


h?! 


A  century  since  Burgoyne  surrender'd  here  !  * 
British  dominion  its  Centennial  year 
Had  jnst  completed  —  which  its  Lion  tore 
From  Holland's  zone,  the  richest  gem  it  bore,  — 
And  now  assembled  thus,  we  celebrate 
The  triumph  sure  which  sealM  th'  invader's  fate ; 
Without  this  deed,  Freedom  had  not  been  ours; 
Without  this  fact,  unbroken  Britain's  powers ; 
Burgoyne  defeated,  France  became  our  friend, 
A  source  of  strength  on  which  we  could  depend, 
For  all  that  War's  strong  sinews  constitute  — 
To  foster  Freedom's  tree  —  ^neath  us  the  root. 


All  was  decided  here,  and  at  this  hour 

Our  sun  leap'd  up,  though  clouds  still  veil'd  its  power. 

From  Saratoga's  hills  we  date  the  birth, — 

Our  Nation's  birth  among  the  powers  of  earth. 

Not  back  to  '76  New  Yorker's  date : 

The  mighty  impulse  launched  our  "  Ship  of  State" 

'Twas  given  here  —  where  shines  our  rising  sun 

Excelsior !  These  hills  saw  victory  won. 

This  vale  the  cradle  where  the  colonies 

Grew  into  states  —  despite  all  enemies. 

Yes,  on  this  spot  —  Thanks  to  our  Gracious  God 

Where  last  in  conscious  arrogance  it  trod, 

Defil'd  as  captives  Burgoyne's  conquer'd  horde ; 

Below '  their  general  yielded  up  his  sword 

There'  to  our  flag  bow'd  England's,  battle-torn. 

Where  now  we  stand  *  th'  United  States  was  born ! 


>  The  New  Netherlands  were  not  definitely  ceded  to  Great  Britain,  and  did  not  become 
permanently  New  Yorli  until  the  9th  Februiiry,  1674,  by  the  peace  Binned  at  Westmint- 
ter.  The  city  of  New  Amsterdam  or  New  York,  wa»  not  finally  yielded  up,  however, 
until  the  10th  November,  1674. 

'  "  Below."'  On  the  alluvial  flat,  a  Tew  feet  distant  fVom  the  foundation  of  the  contem- 
plated Saratoga  Monument  (according  to  W.  L.  Stone),  Burgoyne  went  through  the 
ceremony  of  rcBiirning  his  sword  to  Gates.  The  iJuke  do  Rochcfoucauld-Liancourt  (ii, 
302)  who  visited  "Saratog"'  in  1795,  says  that  the  ceremony  took  place  in  the  courtyard 
of  Schuyler's  ruined  homestead. 

'  "  There.''  About  a  hundred  rods  to  the  front  and  eastward,  near  tiie  site  of  old  Fort 
Hardy  and  present  villageof  Schuylerville,  the  British  forces  laid  down  their  arms. 

*  ''Here  where  we  stand.''  The  Convention  of  Saratoca  traversed  all  the  British  plans, 
lost  to  iheCrowM  an  armv  which  could  not  be  replaced,  won  by  the  colonies  the  French 
alliance,  without  whose  iiu'M,  material  and  money,  Independence  was  silll  an  impossi- 
bility. Anil  alterwards  no  great  general  l)iittle  was  fought,  nor  did  the  English  achieve 
a  single  success  which  led,  even  comparatively  spcakinir,  to  importmt  results.  The  sun 
of  the  nth  of  October,  1777,  wituesaed  the  safe  delivery  of  the  infant  United  SUtes. 


THE  Surrender  of  Burqoyne. 


149 


rer. 


md  did  not  become 
Tned  at  WeBtmint- 
Ided  up,  however, 

tion  of  the  contem- 

went  through  the 

cauld-Llancourt  (ii, 

ice  In  the  courtyard 

tiie  site  of  old  Fort 
n  their  arras. 
II  the  British  plans, 
clonics  the  French 
Milil  an  Impossl- 
he  Kngllsh  achieve 
It  results.  The  sun 
United  States. 


Note  by  the  Editor  to  the  Preceding  Poem. 

The  writer  of  these  verses  has  endeavored  to  convey  in  a  few  lines  facts 
worthy  of  remembrance,  which  thus  concisely  put  could  be  recalled  with- 
out exertion,  and  road  or  listened  to  without  fatigue.     The  facts  thus 
grouped  together  in  rliyme,  and  so  briefly  presented,  were  the  result,  how- 
ever, of  years  of  the  closest  study.     The  autiior's  researches  had  already 
borne  fruit  in  a  series  of  publications.    The  most  prominent  of  these  was 
an  "  Annual  Address,"  delivered  on  the  22d  of  January.  1877,  before  the 
New  York  Historical  Society,  and  entitled  "  Major  General  Schuyler  and 
the  Burgoyne  Campaign,  in  the  summer  of  1777 :"  June,  October,  1777 ; 
"Justice  to   Schuyler,"   published  in  the  New  York  Citizen,   Citizen  and 
Round  Table,   in  or  about  January,  1808;  also  "Schuyler  and  Practical 
Strategy,"  published  in  the  Armi/  and  Navy  Journal,  27th  January,   1865, 
vol.  Ill,  page  336.     The  last  two  were  published  in  1876,  as  a  Monograplj, 
with  notes.     In  addition  to  these,  the  author.  Major  General  J.  Watts  de 
Peyster,  prepared  a  series  of  nineteen  articles,  bearing  the  general  title 
"The  Revolutionary  Year,   1777,"   which  came  out  in  the  New  York 
Evening  Mail  and  New   York  Afail.     Tlie  first  appeared  on  the  5th  of 
April,  and  the  nineteentii  on  the  13th  December,  1877.    The  series  treated 
of  all  the  prominent  events  of  "  the  real  beyond  contradiction.  Centennial 
year."    They  filled  nearly  thirty  columns  of  this  Evening  Daily.    Overand 
above  this  immense  labor,  the  same  exponi  nt  of  the  truth  of  American 
history,  wrote  twelve  voluminous  articles  on  "  the  Burgoyne  Campaign  " 
for  the  New  York  Daily  Times,  treating  in  detail,  not  only  the  Burgoyne 
Campaign,  proper,  but  all  the  milltarv  operations  bearing  upon  or  con- 
nected with  the  same.    These  occupied  at  least  thirlysix  columns  brevier 
and  agate  type  in  this  prominent  daily  journal.     Some  of  them  were  pro- 
nounced by  experts  to  be  exhaustive  of  facts  and  authorities.    Nor  was 
this  the  entirety  of  his  labors.     He  furnisiied  a  monograpli  and  poem  on 
the  Battle  of  Oriskany,  with  notes  to  titone's  New  York  Military  Oazette, 
of  the  15th  November,  1860,  rtnd  a  detailed  article  on  the  same  subject  to 
the  New  York  Ilisiorical  Magazine  (new  series,  vol.  v,  No.  1),  for  January 
1869.     The  poem  whlcii  first  appeared  in  the  Military  Oazette,  was  con- 
sidered of  sutticient  merit  to  be  translated  Into  German  and  republished  la 
Hon.  Friedrlch  Kapp's  "  Gerchiclite  dor  deutchen  Anwanderung  in  Ame- 
rika,"  vol.   1,   "  Oenchichte  der   Deutuchen  in  i^tuate  New    York  bis  zum 
anfange  des  neunzehnten  Jahrhundert,'"  New  York,  1867,  pages  38U-90.     It 
was  again  reproduced  in  the  IStaats  Zeitung,  of  the  6th  of  August,  1877. 
His  second  poem  on  Oriskany,  written  for  the  occasion,  was  read  at  tlie 
Centennial  Anniversary  of  this  decisive  battle,  noteworthy  in  connection 
with  the  battles  and  capltulaiion  of  Saratoga,  because  it  did  decide  the  fate 
of  the  Burgoyne  Campaign.     This  received  the  most  flattering  notice  from 
the  press  throughout  the  state  as  well  as  elsewhere. 

The  motive  for  all  tills  work  was  patriotism  in  the  sense  vhlch  it  was 
applied  in  olden  times  when  a  man's  sympathies  were  not  expected  to 
embrace  a  continent  •  Love  of  New  York,  the  Empire  state  in  the  truest 
sense  of  such  an  appellation,  imperial  even  in  its  errors.  With  gradually 
developing  thought,  even  New  England  lias  attained  thenuijesty  of  justice 
to  Schuyler  (see  Stevens's  Burgoyne  Campaign,  page  27). 

20 


m 


150 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


1:1 
h 


.■^T! 


* 


Alas !  this  justice  comes  just  one  centurj'^  too  late.  New  England's  envy 
ard  injustice,  in  1777,  deprived  Schuyler  of  bis  glory  in  the  very  hour  of 
tuumpli.  New  England,  for  which  Washington  had  so  little  good  and  so 
much  bitter  both  to  say  and  t«)  write. 

All  the  conflicts  of  the  Burgoyue  campaign  were  fought  on  New  York 
soil,  and  all  the  great  factors  in  the  triumph,  except  the  mere  nominal  cliief 
actor,  were  born  witliin  the  limits  of  the  original  colony,  of  the  Kew 
Netherlands,  afterwards  New  York.  Children  of  its  soil  fought  out  the 
question,  on  the  Upper  Hudscm  (underlying  Fort  Anne),  at  Oriskany,  and 
in  the  pas.ses  of  the  Highlands.  Namesake  and  kinsman,  blood  relation  and 
connection,  neiglibor  and  dependant,  met  breast  to  breast,  to  solve  the 
great  problem  whether  thei;  country  should  be  happi  ,  under  a  consti- 
tutional monarchy,  or  a  constitution  and  congress. 

They  did  not  decide  it  then,  and  it  is  an  enigma  \viiich  still  remains  un- 
solved. Events  are  tending  fast  to  its  solution,  but  the  tangled  skein  is 
certainly  not  yet  entirely  unravelled. 

What  scathing  words  Washington  hurls  around  him,  at  various  mem- 
bers of  tiie  old  original  Thirteen.  He  is  unsparing.  New  England  does 
not  escape,  nor  Pennsylvania,  nor  even  his  own  native  Virginia. 

"In  1777  (says  Theodore  ^arker  in  his  Historic  Americanis)  whoa  the 
British  held  Pliilailelphia,  and  Washington  went  into  winter-quarters  at 
Valley  Forge,  only  a  day's  march  off,  at  a  time  of  the  greatest  peril,  the 
*  *  state  of  Pennsylvania  had  but  twelve  hundred  militia  in  the  field  to 
defend  their  own  firesides."  "  Pennsylvania  *  *  did  little  for  independ- 
ence." 

These  are  quotations.  If  the  charges  are  unfounded  let  the  author 
justify  them.  One  fact  is  patent,  just  as  in  1863  and  186t5  Pennsylvania 
had  to  call,  in  1777,  upon  her  sister  slates  to  protect  her  homesteads. 

Meanwhile  what  is  the  record  of  the  Rev.  William  Gordon  (HI,  390), 
in  regard  to  New  York,  which,  "  though  consuming  at  both  ends,  and 
bleeding  at  every  pore,  hud  her  complement  of  Continental  troops  (con- 
gress soldiers,  regulars),  in  the  field ;  beside  having  raised  in  the  month 
of  May  [1780],  eight  hundred  new  levies  to  guard  the  frontiers." 

In  1780,  when  New  York  was  devastated  (at  its  heart)  by  her  owh  off- 
spring, while  thus  suffering  and  still  exerting  itself,  several  of  her  sister 
states  were  in  full  and  i)eaceable  possession  of  their  territories,  seemingly 
slept  in  security,  and  had  not  a  third  of  their  quota  in  the  field."  "Yet 
(at  this  very  peiiodj  in  1779-80,  General  Arnold,  the  traitor,  with  less 
than  two  thousand  men  (British,  regulars  and  loyalists)  ravaged  the  whole 
state  of  Virginia  for  two  years.  Jefferson  did  nothing  against  him." 
{Parker's  HiUoric  Americans,  Washington,  144.)  Nor  was  the  Father  of 
his  Country  less  severe  on  the  original  Colonial  Virginia  Militia  or  Pro- 
vincial troops.     {Ihid,  86-88.) 

This  theme  might  be  pursued  with  healthful  instructiveness  through 
pages  for  the  edification  not  merely  of  the  men  of  the  day,  but  of  posterity, 
to  show  that  not  only  were  the  shores  of  the  noble  river  (which  bears 
his  name),  "the  loveliest  country  (according  to  Hudson)  on  which  the  foot 
of  man  was  ever  set,"  but  the  men  who  were  bred  and  born  along  this 
majestic  stream  audits  affluents,  were  worthy  of  such  a  partial  soil. 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


151 


The  pen  labors  to  reproduce  all  the  honors  that  cluster  around  New 
York. 

"  The  curtains  of  yesterday  drop  down,  the  curtains  of  to-morrow  roll  up, 
but  yesterday  and  to-morrow,  bdh  are  /" 

Tlie  first  North  American  Colonial  Congress  met  at  New  York,  on  the 
call  of  Leister  in  1690  (Lamb,  1,  379).  The  second  (by  many  styled  the 
first),  celebrated  Congress,  consisting  of  delegates  from  all  the  colonies, 
convened  by  order  of  the  Lords  of  Trade,  at  Albany  in  1754  (Lamb,  1, 
640). 

The  fate  of  the  thirteen  colonies  w^as  decided  in  the  state  of  New 
York,  one  hundred  years  ago  ;  and  the  first  president  of  the  United  States 
was  inaugurated  in  the  city  of  New  York,  eighty-eight  years  ago,  in  a 
building,  Federal  Hall,  whose  site  was  a  gift  to  his  native  city,  one  hundred 
and  eighty-five  years  ago,  by  the  then  mayor,  tlie  lineal  ancestor  of  th'e 
writer  of  the  poem  which  precedes  tliis  note. 

So  mucli  space  has  been  devoted  to  this  illustration,  because  if  General 
de  Peysler's  p:irt.  in  the  exercises  on  the  17th  Oct.,  1877,  at  Schuylerville 
was  comparatively  small,  Ids  "  chivalric"  labors  to  place  the  state  of  New 
York  upon  the  grand  ele^•ation  its  majesty  deserves,  have  not  been  ex- 
ceeded by  any  "  son  of  the  soil,"  since  first  it  had  a  literature  and  records. 


THE    STAR  SPANGLED    BANNER,  PREPARED  FOR 
THE  OCCASION  BY  COL.  B.  C.  BUTLER. 


Read  by   William  L.  Stone. 


O  say,  can  you  see,  by  the  dawn's  early  light. 

On  Saratoga's  broad  plains  what  so  proudly  is  streaming. 
Whose  broad  stripes  and  briglit  stars  through  the  perilous  fight, 

O'er  the  ramparts  we  watched  were  so  gallantly  streaming. 
For  our  fathers  this  day,  to  tliis  field  made^their  way 
To  glory,  in  the  conquest  of  the  foes  prond  array. 
And  the  star  spangled  banner  in  triumph  shall  wave, 
O'er  the  land  of  the  free,  and  the  home  of  the  brave. 

In  its  field  stood  the  plow,  the  axe  ceased  in  the  wood. 

From  his  log  cabin  gladly,  the  wild  hunter  sallied. 
From  city  and  glen,  they  came  like  a  flood 

To  the  ranks  where  the  brave  and  the  valiant  were  rallied. 
O  let  Stillwater's  Heights,  and  Saratoga's  dread  fight 
Tell  how  nobly  our  sires,  fought  and  bled  lor  the  right. 
While  the  star  spangled  banner  in  triumph  doth  wave. 
O'er  the  land  of  the  free,  and  the  home  of  the  brave. 

This  day,  when  our  sires  trod  on  scepter  and  chain. 
And  the  foes  of  proud  Britain  were  scattered  before  us, 

Then  went  up  to  heaven  with  lnudest  acclaim 
From  the  hearts  of  true  freemen,  that  victory  is  o'er  us, 

'Twas  Huzzah!  Huzzah  I  from  the  lake  to  the  shore, 


m. 


152        Ckntennial  Celebration  of 

Our  cause  it  has  triumphed,  we  are  subjects  no  more  — 
Tlie  star  spangled  banner  in  triumph  doth  wave, 
O'er  the  land  of  the  free,  and  the  home  of  the  brave. 

O,  thus  be  it  ever,  when  freemen  shall  stand 

Between  their  loved  home  and  the  foes'  desolation, 
Blest  with  victory  and  peace,  may  the  heaven-blest  land, 

Praise  the  power  that  hath  blest,  and  preserved  it  a  nation. 
Then  conquer  we  must,  for  our  cause  it  is  just, 
And  this  be  our  motto,  "  In  God  is  our  trust," 
And  the  star  spangled  banner  in  triumph  shall  wave, 
O'er  the  land  of  the  free,  and  the  home  of  the  brave. 


LETTERS  FROM  BENSON  J.  LOSSII^G,  MRS.  ELLEN 
HARDIN  WALWORTH,  GILEIS  B.  SLOCUM,  AND 
STEPHEN  D.  KIRK  OF  CHARLESTON,  S.  C. 

Read  by  Col.  D.  F.  Ritchie. 

BENSON  J.  LOSSING'S  LETTER. 

The  Ridge,  Dover  Plains  P.  O.,  | 

Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  15,  1875.  j 

William  L.  Stone,  Esq. : 

My  Dear  Sir  —  I  find,  at  the  last  moment,  that  circumstances 
will  deny  me  the  enjoyment  of  participating  in  the  ceremonies 
at  Saratoga  on  Wednesday. 

I  have  anticipated  much  gratification  in  revisiting  the  region 
of  Burgoyne's  disaster,  over  which  I  traveled  twenty-nine  years 
ago,  with  pencil  and  note-book  in  hand,  guided  in  my  researches 
on  Bemis's  Heights,  by  Mr.  Nelson,  who,  I  believe,  still  lives  in 
Arnold's  headquarters. 

The  .mention  of  Arnold's  name  opens  to  view  the  unpleasant 
scene  in  the  career  of  the  "  conqueror  of  Burgoyne,"  which 
Americans  are  willing  to  conceal  by  a  curtain  drawn  by  the 
hand  of  charity  in  behalf  of  human  weakness.  I  mean  the  cul- 
mination of  the  intrigues  of  Gen.  Gates  to  obtain  the  honorable 
position  held  by  Gen.  Schuyler  as  commander  of  the  Northern 
Department,  whose  judicious  management  with  feeble  means 
had  secured  the  victory  to  Saratoga  before  the  battle  was  fought. 


THE  Surrender  of  Burootne. 


153 


The  unselfish  patriotism  of  Schuyler,  second  to  that  of  no 
man  engaged  in  the  grand  struggle  for  liberty  in  America  a 
hundred  years  ago,  was  manifested  in  various  ways.  He  never 
let  personal  feeling  or  interest  stand  in  the  way  of  the  public 
good.  When  Gates  came  as  his  successor  in  command  of  the 
army  and  treated  him  with  marked  supercilliousness,  Schuyler 
endured  the  cruel  sting  with  calmness,  and  not  only  offered  but 
promptly  and  generously  gave  to  Gates  his  services  and  his 
influence  which  secured  a  triumph  for  the  haughty  commander 
and  the  patriot  cause.  He  saw  with  deep  concern  the  danger 
with  wliich  the  cause  was  menaced  by  Gates's  jealousy  of  Arnold ; 
and  he  expressed  that  concern  orally  and  in  letters  to  his  friends; 
but  he  never  uttered  a  word  in  derogation  of  Gates  who,  with 
the  aid  of  his  friends  in  congress,  had  cruelly  wronged  Schuyler. 

The  lofty  character  of  that  patriot  is  displayed  in  some  private 
letters  whic^i  Schuyler  addressed,  at  the  time,  to  Colonel  Richard 
Varick,  whi  had  been  his  military  secretary  and  aide-de-camp, 
and  was  his  much  loved  friend.  Thesj  letters,  in  unpublished 
manuscript,  are  before  me.  They  have  a  peculiar  interest  in 
connection  with  this  centennial  celebration.  I  make  the  two  or 
three  subjoined  extracts  from  them.  Two  days  after  the  firht 
battle  on  Bemis's  Heights  (Sept.  21,  1777),  Schuyler  wrote  to 
Col.  Varick,  who  was  in  the  field  in  front  of  Burgoyne  : 

"I  am  exceedingly  happy  that  the  aflFair  of  the  19th  has 
turned  out  so  much  to  our  advantage.  I  hope  the  same  good 
fortune  will  attend  us  in  every  subsequent  one.  A  report  pre- 
vails that  a  second  fracas  has  happened  between  Gates  and 
General  Arnold,  but  the  occasion  is  not  mentioned.  I  hope  it 
is  not  of  such  a  nature  as  to  oblige  that  gallant  oflicer  to  leave 
the  army.  If  he  does,  I  shall  be  far,  very  far  indeed  from  being 
80  easy  as  I  feel  myself  in  the  reflection  that  he  is  with  you. 
Advise  me  what  has  happened." 

On  the  25th,  Schuyler  again  wrote  to  Colonel  Varick,  saying  : 

"  I  am  pleased  to  hear  that  my  gallant  friend,  General  Arnold, 
has  determined  to  remain  until  a  battle  shall  have  happened  or 
Burgoyne  retreats.  Everybody  that  I  have  yet  conversed  with 
on  the  subject  of  the  dispute  between  Gates  and  him  thinks 


154 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


Arnold  has  been  extremely  ill-treated.  I  wonder  at  Gates's 
policy.  He  will  probably  be  indebted  to  him  for  the  glory  he 
may  acquire  by  a  victory  /  but  perhaps  he  is  so  very  sure  of 
success  that  he  does  not  wish  the  other  to  cotne  in  for  a  share 
of  it:' 

The  destruction  of  his  ])roperty  to  the  amount  of  $50,000, 
his  mansion  and  mills  at  Saratoga,  did  not  draw  from  Schuyler 
a  word  of  complaint.  When  Burgoyne,  who  had  caused  that 
destruction,  was  entertained  at  Schuyler's  table,  in  Albany, 
after  the  surrender,  and  spoke  feelingly  of  the  event,  the  patriot 
replied  :  "  Don't  speak  of  it  ;  it  was  the  fortune  of  war''  And 
two  days  before  the  surrender,  when  tidings  of  negotiations  to 
that  effect  had  reached  Schuyler,  he  wrote  to  Colonel  Varick 
(Oct.  15,  1877):  "The  event  that  has  taken  place  makes  the 
heavy  loss  I  have  sustained  set  quite  easy  upon  me.  Britain  will 
probably  see  how  fruitless  her  attempts  to  enslave  us  will  be. 
I  set  out  to-day." 

Schuyler's  suggestion  that  Gates  might  be  indebted  to  Arnold 
for  the  glory  he  might  acquire  by  a  victory,  was  prophetic.  It 
was  even  so  ;  and  he  showed,  in  omitting  Arnold's  name  in  his 
despatch  to  congress,  that  he  was  unwilling  that  another  should 
"  come  in  for  a  share  of  the  glory." 

I  have  written  this  letter  with  an  earnest  desire  to  impress 
upon  the  minds  of  my  countrymen  the  truth  which  undeniable 
facts  certify,  that  to  the  unselfish  patriotism,  sleepless  vigilance, 
untiring  industry,  marvelous  fortitude,  rare  judgment  and  skill, 
unflinching  courage,  lofty  faith  and  wide  social  influence  of 
General  Schuyler,  more  than  to  the  exertions  of  any  other  man, 
is  due  the  honor  and  the  praise  of  any  turning  back  a  most  for- 
midable invasion  of  northern  and  western  New  York,  in  1777, 
and  the  ruin  of  the  armies  of  the  invaders.  That  event  was  the 
pivotal  point  upon  which  the  fortunes  of  the  war  tilrned  in  favor 
of  the  Americans,  and  led  directly  to  circumstances  which 
secured  our  independence. 

Yours,  with  sentiments  of  high  esteem, 

Benson  J.  Lossing. 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


166 


« 
MRS 


WALWORTH'S  LETTER. 


Saratoga  Springs,  Sept.  4th,  1877. 
Mr.  Wm.  L.  Stone,  Sec'y, 

Dear  Sir  —  Accept  ray  thanks  for  .your  polite  invitation,  to 
attend  the  Centennial-celebration  of  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne. 
I  will  endeavor  to  be  present.  It  is  an  occasion  in  which  I 
naturally  take  a  very  lively  interest,  having  been  over  the 
ground  many  times  both  practically  and  theoretically  in  the 
preparation  of  my  map  of  the  battles.  I  have  also  a  traditionary 
interest  in  the  event  since  my  great  grandfather  was  in  both 
battles  and  present  at  the  surrender.  As  you  have  requested 
me  to  furnish  you  with  a  short  sketch  of  his  life  to  be  used  at 
the  celebration,  I  enclose  a  few  items  and  regret  that  pressing 
engagements  prevent  me  from  referring  to  interesting  family 
papers. 

Colonel  John  Hardin  was  born  in  Fauquier  county,  Virginia, 
Oct.  Ist,  1853.    Martin  Hardin,  his  father,  moved  from  Fauquier, 
county,  to  George's  Creek,  on  the  Monongahela  river,  when 
John  was  about  twelve  years  old.     This  was  a  new  settlement 
on  the  frontier,  and  Martin  Hardin  thought  it  was  in  Virginia, 
but  when  the  state  line  was  drawn,  it  was  found  to  be  in  Penn- 
sylvania.    In  their  new  situation,  hunting  was  an  occupation  of 
necessity.     Young  Hardin,  with  his  rifle,  traversed  the  vales, 
crossed  the  hills  and  clambered  the  mountains  in  search  of  game 
until  he  became  one  of  the  most  perfect  hunters  of  his  time. 
The  rapidity  and  exactness  with  which  he  used  his  rifle   (a 
weapon  still  preserved  in  the  family),  made  him  what  is  called 
a  "  dead  shot." 

In  the  expedition  conducted  by  Governor  Dunmore  against 
the  Indians  in  1774,  John  Hardin  served  as  ensign  in  a  militia 
company.  The  following  year  he  volunteered  with  Captain 
Jack  Morgan,  and  was  wounded  during  an  engagement  with 
the  o.  "^o-es.  A  rifle  ball  struck  his  thigh  and  lodged  near  the 
groin  whence  ?t  was  never  abstracted.  Before  he  had  recovered 
from  his  wound  or  could  dispense  with  his  crutches,  he  joined 

Dunmore  in  his  march  against  the  Indian  towns. 


156 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


Soon  after  the  peace  that  ensued,  Hardin  prepared  for  a 
journey  to  Kentucky,  as  the  scene  of  new  adventures,  but 
rumors  of  approaching  war  with  Great  Britain  led  him  to 
abandon  this  project. 

When  the  American  congress  called  for  a  military  force 
Hardin  offered  himself  to  the  business  of  recruiting  and  soon 
joined  the  continental  army  with  the  commission  of  second 
lieutenant.  He  was  attached  to  Morgan's  rifle  corps,  and  was 
held  in  high  esteem  by  Gen.  Daniel  Morgan,  and  was  often 
selected  by  him  for  enterprises  of  peril  which  required  discre- 
tion and  intrepidity  to  ensure  success.  While  with  the  army 
of  Gen.  Gates  he  was  sent  on  a  reconnoitering  expedition  with 
orders  to  capture  a  prisoner  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  inform- 
ation. Marching  silently  in  advance  of  his  party,  he  found 
himself,  on  reaching  the  Jibrupt  summit  of  a  niU,  in  the  presence 
of  three  British  soldiers  and  a  Mohawk  Indian.  The  moment 
was  critical,  but  without  the  slightest  hesitation  he  presented 
his  rifle  and  ordered  them  to  surrender.  The  British  immediately 
threw  cown  their  arms,  the  Indian  clubbed  his  gun.  Hardin 
continued  to  advance  on  them,  but  none  of  his  men  having 
come  up  to  his  assistance  he  turned  his  head  a  little  to  one  side 
and  called  them.  The  Indian  warrior  observing  Hardin's  eye 
withdrawn  from  him  reversed  his  gun  with  a  rapid  motion  ior 
the  purpose  of  firing.  Hardin  caught  the  gleam  of  light  that 
was  reflected  from  the  polished  barrel  of  the  gun,  and  readily 
divining  its  meaning,  brought  his  own  rifle  to  a  level,  and  with- 
out raising  his  gun  to  his  face  gained  the  first  fire  and  gave  the 
Indian  a  mortal  wound.  The  ball  from  the  warrior's  rifle  passed 
through  Hardin's  hair.  The  British  prisoners  were  marched 
into  camp  and  Hardin  received  the  thanks  of  General  Gates. 
Soon  after  this  he  was  offered  a  major's  commission  in  a  new 
regiment,  but  he  declined,  alleging  that  he  could  be  of  more  use 
where  he  was. 

In  1786,  he  removed  with  his  wife  and  family  to  Kentucky, 
and  was  in  every  expedition  into  the  Indian  country  from  that 
state,  that  occurred  during  his  life.  In  1792,  he  was  sent  by 
General  Wilkinson  with  overtures  of  peace  to  the  Indians.    He 


THE  Surrender  of  Burqoyne. 


167 


was  on  his  route  to  the  Miami  villages,  attended  by  his  in- 
terpreter and  a  party  of  Indians  who  professed  to  be  friendly. 
They  proved  to  be  treacherous  and  cruel  and  shot  him  to  death. 
The  Indian  chiefs  assembled  in  council  expressed  much  regret 
upon  hearing  of  Hardin's  death  though  they  were  suspected  of 
having  instigated  the  tragedy,  the  victim  being  held  in  dread 
as  one  of  the  "  mighty  men  "  of  the  "  dark  and  bloody  ground." 
With  cordial  wishes  for  the  success  of  the  celebration,  I 

remain, 

Very  truly  yours, 

Ellen  Hardin  Walworth. 


GILES  B.  SLOCUM'S  LETTER. 

Trenton,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich., 

Oct.  10th,  1877. 
William  L.  Stone,  Esq., 

My  Dear  Sir  —  I  take  great  pleasure  in  responding  to  your 
request  that  I  should  write  you  some  of  my  early  recollections  of 
Schuylerville,  and  of  the  celebration  which  occurred  in  that  vil- 
lage in  1822.  Brief,  as  they  must  necessarily  be,  they  may, 
perhaps,  possess  some  degree  of  interest. 

It  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  say  that  my  grandfather,  Giles 
Slocumj  was  well  acquainted  with  Major-General  Schuyler  (whom 
he  greatly  admired)  as  he  first  rented  a  farm  and  afterwards 
bought  it  of  that  general.  The  farm  is  now  owned  by  one  Lockro 
on  the  west  bank  of  P^ish  creek  about  a  mile  below  Stafford's 
bridge.  On  this  spot  I  was  born  in  1 808,  but  my  father  and  grand- 
father moved  over  to  old  Saratoga,  in  1814,  and  bought  the  place 
now  owned  by  Hiram  Cramer,  situated  about  two  miles  south-west 
of  Schuylerville.  This  was  the  same  farm,  in  fact,  on  which 
resided  Major  Dunham  —  the  captor  of  the  noted  tory  Lovelace 
who  was  hung  as  a  spy  on  the  hill  just  in  front  of  the  old 
Schuyler  mansion.  •  The  remarkable  and  aged  Albert  Clements 
at  that  time  lived  on  the  adjoining  farm  to  ours,  and  he  is  still 
living,  adjoining,  but  about  a  mile  east  of  his  former  residence. 

When  a  school  boy,  we  used  to  find  leaden  bullets  on  Bur- 


>  The  skull  of  Lovelace  is  now  in  the  possession  of  George  Strover  Esq.  —  W^L.  S. 
21 


158 


Centennial  Celebration  op 


goyne's  battle-grounds  of  which  we  made  plummets  to  rule  our 
writing  paper,  as  they  were  the  softest  and  best  lead  to  be  had. 
I  w*)ll  remember  the  "  entrenchments  or  breastworks"  on  the 
west  slope  of  the  heights  of  Saratoga  of  which  Mr.  Clements 
speaks  in  his  affidavit  ;'  and  I  also  well  recollect  the  embank- 
ment enclosing  Fort  Hardy,  at  the  north  side  of  Fish  creek,  just 
at  its  junction  with  the  Hudson  —  the  point  where  Burgoyue's 
army  piled  their  arms. 

About  fifty-five  years  ago  there  was  a  big  celebration  on  the 
4th  of  July,  of  which  Philip  Schuyler,  the  grandson  of  General 
Schuyler,  was  the  leading  actor.  The  extensive  tables  on  the 
occasion  were  set  on  the  grounds  of  old  Fort  Hardy,  with  a 
canopy  of  evergreens  to  protect  the  guests  from  the  sun  although 
the  oration  was  delivered  in  a  shady  grove  on  the  eastern  slope 
of  the  heights,  near  where  the  Dutch  Reformed  church  now 
stands,  by  the  "  eloquent  but  unfortunate"  Kev.  Hooper  Cum- 
mings  of  Albany,  at  that  time  a  brilliant  light  in  the  American 
pulpit,  but  destined,  "  like  a  glowing  meteor,  to  go  suddenly 
down  in  darkness  and  gloom."-  I  well  remember,  also,  that 
there  were  about  a  dozen  old  revolutionary  soldiers  i)resent, 
seated  in  a  row  on  a  bench  close  under  the  voice  and  eye  of  the 
orator  (so  tliat  they  could  the  better  hear  and  see)  ;  and  that 
when  the  speaker,  in  the  course  of  his  remarks,  addressed  them 
personally,  it  was  in  such  glowing  terms  of  thankfulness  and 
honor  for  their  invaluable  services,  few  dry  eyes  could  have  been 
found  within  hearing  of  his  voice.  John  Ward,  one  of  the 
body  guard  of  General  Schuyler,  and  who  was  carried  oflf  by 
the  tory  Waltermeyer,  into  Canada,  when  the  latter  attempted 
the  abduction  of  the  general  from  Albany,  was  among  those 
seated  on  the  bench. 

The  gathering  was  a  very  large  one,  the  people  of  the  whole 
county  being  nearly  all  there.  Brigadier  General  De  Ridder 
from  across  the  river,  a  substantial  property  holder  and  a  gene- 


» See  Mra.  Walworth's  Guide  Book,  and  Stone's  Burgoyne. 

*  This  noted  orator  seems  to  have  been  a  favorite  speaker  on  ench  occasions.  In  the 
Buminer  of  182«i,  when  the  lemnins  of  Jane  McCrea  were  taken  up  and  reburied,  he  de- 
livered the  discourse.    See  Lossiug's  Field  Book  of  the  Revolution.  —  W.  L.  S. 


THE  Surrender  of  Burqoyne. 


169 


ral  in  the  war  of  1812,  was  mounted  on  a  fine  horse  at  the  head 
of  a  large  troop  of  light  horse  (as  they  were  then  called)  and 
other  military  companies.  The  "  soul  stirring  drum  and  ear 
piercing  fife"  were  the  materials  in  that  day  in  the  way  of  music. 
I  recall  the  fact,  also,  that  the  breastworks  surrounding  the  fort 
were  nearly  perfect  a*^^  that  time,  as  General  De  Hidder,  at  the 
head  of  the  military,  marched  around  on  the  top  of  the  entrench- 
ments. 

Philip  Scliuyler,  and  General  De  Ridder  wore  the  great  per- 
sonages of  that  day,  and  were  the  only  ones  who  came  to  the 
old  Dutch  Reformed  church  in  their  coaches. 

Two  years  ago,  I  visited  Schuylerville  with  my  son.  I  then 
looked  in  vain  for  the  first  vestige  of  the  old  fort,  or  of  the  en- 
trenchments on  the  heights.  I  recollect  the  old  Dutch  Reformed 
church  situated  about  half  a  mile  south  of  Schuylerville,  as 
mentioned  by  Mr.  Clements;  and  in  my  childhood  was  edified 
by  hearing  eacft  Sunday  two  sermons  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Duryea. 
The  building  was  oiiclosed,  but  not  plastered,  and  was  used  by 
the  British  in  the  campaign.  I  was  well  acquainted  with  Philip 
Schuyler,  the  grandson  above  mentioned,  who  left  that  section 
of  the  country  in  1 837.  I,  also,  left  the  same  year  for  this  place, 
where  I  have  resided  ever  since.  I  came  here  for  the  first  time, 
however,  in  1831. 

You  will  see,  therefore,  that  I  cannot  but  have  a  great  desire 
to  see  the  monument  completed  in  my  time,  as  I  have  always 
had  a  strong  attachment  for  the  place  of  my  birth. 

I  regret  very  much  that  I  cannot  attend  the  celebration  at 
Schuylerville  on  the  17th. 

I  hope  it  will  be  a  grand  success  and  insure  the  erection  of  a 
monument  on  the  far  famed  "  heights  of  Saratoga"  worthy  to 
commemorate  the  great  event  of  American  history. 

With  much  esteem. 

Very  truly  yours, 

Giles  B.  Slocum. 


rv  'H 


160 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


STEPHEN  D.  KIRK'S  LETTER. 

Charleston,  S.  C,  Oct.  10,  18V7. 
William  L.  Stone,  Esq.^ 

My  Dear  Sir  —  I  am  in  receipt  of  your  favor.  It  will  give 
me  great  pleasure  to  have  my  name  added  to  the  list  of  the 
honorable  gentlemen  who  are  to  be  vice  presidents  on  the  great 
occasion  alluded  to  ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  thank  you  sincerely 
for  assigning  one  of  the  descendants  of  the  fathers  of  one  of 
the  "  old  thirteen"  a  place  in  the  programme. 

I  feel,  as  all  Americans  should,  that  what  concerns  your  great 
state,  certainly  belongs  to  me  also  ;  and  as  citizens  of  one  great 
nation,  we  can  only  maintain  our  sovereignty  by  such  feeling. 

The  year  previous  to  the  annihilation  of  Burgoyne  in  New 
York,  Sir  Peter  Parker  was  expelled  in  disgrace  from  South 
Carolina  ;  and  when  France  and  Holland  recognized  our  great 
country  as  free  and  independent.  New  York  and  the  Palmetto 
state  mutually  rejoiced  at  the  welcome  event..  Then  why  should 
not  the  children  and  grandchildren,  from  generation  to  genera- 
tion, love  and  cherish  each  other  ;  and  at  all  times  -make  these 
anniversaries  national,  if  not  in  fact  at  least  in  feeling?  ]My 
asternal  grandfather  (Wm.  Roberts)  was  a  soldier  of  the  Re- 
volution. My  paternal  grand  uncle  (Gideon  Kirk)  was  almost 
continually  fighting  the  tories,  and,  on  one  occasion,  a  brother 
of  his  was  killed  by  them  through  mistake  for  Gideon.  After 
the  war  he  was  a  member  of  our  state  legislature  at  the  time  of 
its  adoption  of  the  federal  constitution  May  23d,  1788. 

With  much  respect, 

Yours  most  cordialW, 

S.  D.  KiuK. 


n*''h 


TUB  Surrender  op  Burqoyne. 


161 


LETTERS  RECEIVED  BY  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMIT- 
TEE FROM  THOSE  WHO  WERE  UNABLE  TO  BE 
PRESENT  IN  RESPONSE  TO  THE  FOLLOWING  INVI- 
TATION. 


Box  2374,  New  Yokk  City,  Auffust  22,  1877. 

Dear  Sir:— One  hundred  years  ago  —  tlie  17th  of  October,  1877  — 
Burgoyne  surrendered  on  tlie  phiins  of  Saratoga;  and  with  tliat  event 
closed  I  he  most  important  chapt«r  ofthe  American  Revolution.  This 
secured  for  us  the  French  alliance  —  and  lifted  the  ch)ud  of  moral  and 
financial  gloom  that  had  settled  upon  the  hearts  of  the  people,  dampening 
the  hopes  ofthe  leaders  ol  theUevolution,  and  wringing  despairing  words 
even  from  the  hopeful  Washington.  From  that  auspicious  day,  belief  in 
tljp  ultimate  triumph  of  Amirican  liberty  .invcr  abandoned  the  nation  till 
it  was  realized  and  sealed,  four  years  later,  almost  to  a  day,  in  tfie  final 
surrender  at  Yorktown. 

Arrangements  have  nccordingly  been  made,  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Saratoga  Monument  Association,  to  celebrate  t!ie  one  hundredth  anni- 
versary of  the  surrender,  upon  the  field  of  that  event,  at  Schuylerville, 
N.  Y. ,  on  the  seventeenth  day  of  October  next,  in  a  manner  every  way 
wc'-thy  of  the  occasion.  Hon.  Horatio  Seynnmr  of  Utica,  and  Hon. 
George  William  Curtis  of  New  York  city,  will  deliver  the  orations,  and 
Alfred  B.  Street  of  Albany,  the  poem.  You  are  cor  lially  inviltd  to  at- 
tend this  celebration. 

Yours  very  respectfully,  William  L.  Stone, 

Chairman  Invitation  Committee. 

William  L.  Stone,  P.  C.  Ford,  E.  F.  Bullard,  Invitation  Committee 
representing  the  Saratoga  Monument  Association.     An  earl}'  answer  is. 
requested. 

THE  LETTERS. » 

Glencliffe,  Garrison,  Putnam  Co.  N.  Y.,  Sept.  4  1877.  William 
L.  Stone,  Esq.,  New  York.  My  D(  ur  Sir:  I  am  in  the  receipt  of  the  in- 
vitation which  you  have  kin<lly  sent  me  underdate  ofthe  15th  of  August, 
to  attend  the  celebration  on  17th  October  next,  of  the  one  hundredth  an- 
niversary of  th(!  surrender  or  Burgoyne  on  the  plains  of  Saratoga.  I 
regret  that  it  will  not  he  in  my  power  to  be  i)resent  on  the  very  interest- 
ing occasion.  The  importance  of  the  great  event  which  you  j^ropose  to 
celebrate  cannot  be  too  highly  apjircciated  by  those  who  are  now  enjoy- 
ing the  benefits  of  the  government  whose  inhmt  life  was  secured  by  the 
results  of  the  Battle  of  Saratoga.    Very  respectfully  yours, 

Hamilton  Fisn. 

CuMMiNOTON,  Mass.,  Aug.  25,  1877.  My  Dear  Sir:  For  various 
reasons  I  cannot  attend  the  commemoration  of  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne, 
on  the  17th  of  October.  Few  events  in  the'  history  of  our  revolutionary 
war  are  of  such  importance  or  so  well  deserve  to  be  recalled  to  our  grate- 
ful recollection.  I  should  be  glad  to  hear  the  oralini  of  Mr.  Seymour 
set  off  by  the  advantages  of  his  voice  and  manner,  and  to  be  present  at 


'  In  rcfldliisr  these  letterH  of  ttie  dlftlnpulfhed  men,  tlie  moet  cafunl  reader  cannot 
fall  to  nolicu  the  iiiiivur!<nl  recoffnitinn  ol  ttii-  guprunic  Importanco  of  ilio  trrcnt  event 
wlilch  waw  no  iippropriately  mid  cuccecr'fii  Iv  conimnmorati'd  Hid  no',  confrrios  been 
In  BBOfloii  many  ol  tl'.e  writers  would  doul)lleni<  Imvu  hueii  present.  The  editor  conid 
enelh  hiivefllled  insinv  pnues  with  the  letters  tliut  were  received  had  space  permltti'd.  lie 
has  thought  It  best,  therefore,  to  select  a  few  only  from  the  dltTerenl  prolesslons  and 
wnlkx  In  life  to  show  the  general  and  kindly  respunse  to  the  invitation  of  the  com- 
mittee. 


162 


Centennial  Celebration  op 


;:^*V* 


the  reading  of  Mr.  Street's  poem,  which,  I  am  sure,  will  worthily  cele- 
brate the  occasion.  But  I  must  content  myself  with  seeing  them  in 
print,  and  thanking  your  committee  for  your  obliging  invitation, 

I  am,  sir,  faitlifully  yours,  W.  C.  Bryant. 

New  York,  Oct.  2d  1877.  W.  L.  Stone,  Esq.,  Dear  Sir :  I  accept  with 
pleasure  the  iionor  of  being  one  of  tlie  vice-presidents  of  your  assoc'a- 
tion.  If  my  healtli  permits  I  will  be  present  at  tlie  celebration  on  i lie 
17th  inst.  Respectfully  yours,  Qeouge  L.  Schuyler. 

Waldstein,  Fairfield,  Ct.,  Oct.  11,  1877.  William  L.  Stone,  Esq., 
Dear  Sir.  The  invitation  to  me  from  your  conuuittee  to  attend  the  Sura- 
toga  cek'bratiim  does  me  honor,  and  I  trust  that  all  success  will  attend  the 
occasion  which  cannot  but  be  full  of  wholesome  lessons  and  incentives,  as 
well  as  rich  in  patriotic  remembrances.  I  regret  that  I  must  be  content 
to  join  with  you  and  your  associates  in  spirit  only  and  that  I  cannot  leave 
home  ftext  week.     Yours  respectfully,  Sam'l  Osgood. 

New  York  City.  My  dear  Mr.  Stone:  I  am  exceedingly  pleased  with 
your  remf'ujbering  me  in  so  patriotic  a  connection,  as  well  as  because  I 
am  one  of  Dr.  VVayland's  boys.  Your  letter  would  have  been  answered 
before,  but  it  would  have  involved  an  answer  to  the  question,  "  Why  I  go 
lishing,"  and  neglect  correspondence  quietly  lying  at  home.  I  am  just 
"off Nantucket,"  and  that  is  my  excuse  for  tardiness.  Congress  meets 
15th  Oct.,  and  your  "  Event "  is  17th  Oct.  It  will  be  impossible,  therefore, 
forme  to  be  with  you.  If  Con<rress  is  postponed,  I  will  be  on  hand.  My 
revolutionary  centennial  is  at  Monmouth,  where  my  grandfather  fought, 
and  tliat  is  next  year.  So  my  turn  tcill  come.  With  thanks  for  yonr  in- 
vitation, I  am  Yours  truly,  S.  S.  Cox. 

Potsdam,  Oct.  10,1877.  Dear  Sir:  Yours  of  the  8th  inst.,  extending 
to  me  an  invitation  to  participate  in  the  ceremonies  connected  with  the 
laying  of  the  corner  stone  of  tlie  monument  to  be  erected  commemorative 
of  Burgoynes  surrender  is  received.  I  sincerely  regret  that  previous 
engagements  prevent  me  from  accepting  your  invitation,  as  it  would 
afford  me  very  great  pleasure  to  be  present  on  that  patriotic  and  instruct- 
ive occasion,  anil  listun  to  the  orations  of  the  distinguished  gentlemen 
referred  to.  Iloijing  that  the  association  will  have  all  the  success  which 
the  cause  and  occasu)n  should  command,  and  thanking  you  for  the  com- 
pliment which  the  invitation  conveys,  1  am  very  respectfully  yours, 

E.  A.  Merritt. 

New^  York,  Aug.  24,  1877.  My  Dear  Sir:  I  thank  ynu  for  your  polite 
invitation  to  attend  the  Centennial  of  Buigoyne's  surrender  as  one  of  the 
vice  presidents  of  the  day.  *  *  *  My  grandtather  bore  armsin  the  critical 
and  decisive  tight  which  you  celebrate  (as  well  as  alterwards  in  the 
Jerseys  and  at  tlu;  surrender  of  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown),  so  that  it  is  for 
filial  as  well  as  for  patriotic  reasons  that  I  wish  you  very  cordially  a  com- 
plete success.     Faithfully  yours,  Manton  Marble. 

FuLTONVtLLK,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  17.  1877.  Wm.  L.  Stone,  Esq.,  Dear  Sir  : 
It  will  afford  nie  much  pleasure  to  accept  your  invitation.  \o  be  present 
on  the  occasion  of  the  celebration  of  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the 
surrender  of  Hurgoync,  at  Schuylerville.  An  event  which  contributed 
so  notably,  to  ihc  achievement  oV  the  liberties  of  our  country,  iieserves 
suitable  recognilion.  I  am  assured  that  the  interest  displayetl  in  the  pro- 
posed celebration,  as  well  as  well  as  the  spirit  with  which  it  may  be  con- 
ducted, will  not  prove  unworthy  of  either  the  times,  or  the  men,  which 
our  country  hold  in  such  graletul  remembrance.  I  remain  with  regard. 
Yours  very  respectfully,  John  H.  Starin. 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


168 


vorthily  cele- 

ing  ihem  in 

lion, 

;!.  Bryant. 

[  accept  with 
your  assnf'a- 
(ralion  on  ilie 
Schuyler. 

.  Stone,  Esq., 
end  the  Sura- 
ill  attend  the 
incLniives,  as 
St  be  content 
I  cannot  leave 
.'l  Osgood. 

r  pleased  with 
I  as  because  I 
leeii  answered 
n,  "  Why  I  go 
le.  I  am  just 
ongress  meets 
ible,  therefore, 
on  liand.  My 
Ifather  fought, 
is  for  your  in- 
8.  S.  Cox. 

St.,  extending 

cted  with  the 

iminemorative 

hat  previous 

as  it  would 
and  instruct- 

d  gentlemen 
success  which 

for  the  coni- 

yours, 

Meuritt. 

for  your  polite 
as  one  of  the 
111  the  critical 
wards  in  the 
o  that  it  is  for 
idially  a  com- 
^N  Marble. 

sq.,  Dear  Sir: 
to  be  present 
versary  of  the 
;h  contributed 
ntry,  deserves 
jQ<\  in  the  pro- 
t  may  be  con- 
ic men,  which 
with  regard, 
H.  Starin. 


New  York,  Sept.  3d,  1877.  Hon.  Wm.  L.  Stone,  Dear  Sir :  I  regret 
that  I  cannot  accept  your  kind  invitation  to  attend  the  Centennial  celebra- 
tion of  the  battle  of  Saratoga,  as  one  of  the  vice  presidents  of  tl»e  ceremo- 
nies, on  the  17th  of  October,  next.  This  has  been  called  one  of  the  decisive 
battles  of  history.  Who  can  say  that  it  was  not  ?  When  Burgoyne  sur- 
rendered to  the  victors,  the  flower  of  the  British  forces  in  America,  then, 
but  not  till  then,  did  independence  seem  possible.  It  has  always  seemed 
to  me  that  General  Fraser  was  the  controlling  spirit  of  the  enemy  in  this 
engagement,  and  the  bullet  that  laid  him  low,  was  the  chief  instrument 
of  a  victory  that  opened  the  way  to  our  national  existence.  If  at  Lexington, 
was  fired  the  "  shot  heard  roumi  the  world,"  with  equal  truth  that  shot, 
at  Saratoga,  that  took  tiie  gallant  Fraser  from  the  field,  is  echoing  through 
the  centuries  It  is  commendable  that  these  heroic  deeds  of  our  ancestors 
should  be  made  the  object  of  our  homage.  Thi^se  deeds  make  us  to-day 
the  freest  people  on  the  earth.  We  are  reaping  in  ease  the  liarvest  sown 
in  tears.  We  shall  be  wasteful  of  our  inheriiance  of  liberty  and  careless 
to  guard  it  unless  Us  cost  be  kept  constantly  before  us  Thanking  you 
and  the  gentlemen  of  your  committee  for  your  invitation.  I  have  the 
honor  to  remain,  Yours  very  truly,  Ethan  Allen. 

Office  of  the  Journal  of  Commerce,  New  York,  Sept.  3,  1877, 
Wm.  L.  Stone,  Esq.,  Dear  Sir:  I  thank  you  very  cordially  for  the  courte- 
ous invitation  to  attend  the  celebration  at  Schuylerville  of  the  one  hun- 
dredth anniversary  of  Burgoyne's  surrender.  That  event  was  the  turning 
point  in  the  American  Uevolution,  and  the  campaign  wliich  led  to  it  is 
one  of  the  brightest  pages  in  American  history.  1  regret  that  my  pressing 
duties  will  prevent  me  from  joining  in  the  ann'versary  fesiivilies. 

Yours  truly,  David  M.  Stone. 

New  York,  Sept.  3,  1877,  Dear  Sir:  Accept  my  best  thanks  for  the 
nonor  you  have  done  me  in  asking  me  to  join  in  the  commemoration  of 
so  glorious  and  important  an  anniver.sary.  If  I  could  stand  upon  the 
Fiefd  of  Grounded  Arms,  on  the  17th  of  October,  I  should  be  the  richer  for 
life  by  another  imperit^ltable  memory;  but  engagements  made  months 
ago,  compel  me  to  be  in  Boston  on  tliat  day.     Very  respectfully  you;s, 

Bayard  Taylor. 

Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  6,  1877.  My  Dear  Sir:  T  am  very  sorry  to  be 
constrained  to  decline  your  kind  invitation  for  the  17lh  iust.,  but  I  have 
a  positive  engagement  at  home  for  that  day  at  one  o'clock,  p.m.,  and  of 
course  cannot  be  at  Schuylerville.  I  wish  very  sincerely  that  it  were  in 
my  power  to  go,  and  to  perform  the  s(!rvice  w  hich  you  lequest.  Most 
truly  yours,  li.  S.  Storrs. 

New  York,  Sept.  19th,  1877.  William  L.  Stone  Esq.  Dear  sir.  I  am 
in  receipt  of  an  invitation  to  attend  the  celebnitinn  of  the  one  hundredth 
anniversary  of  the  surrenderof  Burgoyne.  I  take  great  pleasure  in  accept- 
ing the  same,  and  should  cireuuistances  |K;rmit  1  shall  be  present  at  the 
interesting  ceremonies.  With  much  respect,  Henry  Kiddle,  Vity  8upt. 

New  York  City,  Oct.  10, 1H77.  Wni.  L.  Stone,  My  Dei\r  sir:  Your  very 
polite  invitation  to  be  prestnlat  the  centennial  celebration  of  Burgoyne's 
surrender  and  act  as  one  of  the  vice  presidents  of  the  day  is  duly  received. 
While  appreciating  highly  the  complunent  thus  (!onveyed,  1  greatly  re- 
gret that  an  imperative  engagement  at  Washington  for  that  day  will  pre- 
vent my  being  with  you  in  person  on  that  occasion.  I  am,  Respectfully 
yours,  Parker  Handy. 

Executive  M.wkion,  Washington,  Aug  20.  1877.  Dear  Sir :  I  am  di- 
rected by  the  pitsldeut  to  acknowledge   the  receipt  of  your  valued  iuvor 


164 


Centennial  Celebration  op 


of  the  18th  inst.  extending  to  him  an  invitation  to  attend  the  celebration 
of  the  one  hundredtli  anniversary  of  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne,  at  Scluiy- 
lerville,  N.  Y.,  on  the  17th  of  October  next,  and  to  say,  in  reply,  that 
while  he  timnks  you  for  your  courtesy,  he  regrets  his  inability  lo  accept, 
owing  to  previous  engagements.     Very  truly  yours, 

O.  L.  Pruden,  AssH  Secretary. 

Windsor,  Vt,  Aug.  27, 1877.  My  Dear  Sir :  I  should  be  vtry  glad  to  at- 
tend the  celfbralion  at  Saratoga,  and  am  much  obliged  to  you  lor  your 
personal  inviialion  wiiich  enforces  that  of  the  committee.  I  should  expect 
great  pleasure  from  hearing  ex-Gov.  Seymour's  omtion,  and  would  wil- 
lingly take  part  in  the  homage  of  our  generation  to  the  great  deeds  of  our 
ancestors  on  the  famous  batlle-flelds  of  Saratoga.  But  I  cannot  at 
present  count  upon  being  able  to  leave  Washington  even  for  a  short  ab- 
sence, in  the  middle  of  October.  Please  convey  my  thanks  to  the  com- 
mittee for  their  attention,  and  accept,  for  yourself,  my  acknowledgments 
for  your  personal  courtesy.  Wishing  all  jiroEperily  to  the  celebration, 
I  am,  yours  very  truly,  Wm.  M.  Evarts. 

War  Department,  Washington,  Aug.  23,  1877.  Wm.  L.  Stone,  Esq., 
My  Dear  Sir:  I  regret  exceedingly  my  inability  to  accept  your  very  kind 
invitation  to  attend  the  centennial  anniversary  of  the  surrender  of  Bur- 
goyne, for  which  please  accept  my  sincere  thanks.    Sincerely  yours, 

Geo.  W.  McCrary,  Secretary  of  War. 

Post  Office  Department,  Washington,  D,  C,  Aug.  26th,  1877.  Wm. 
L.  Stone,  Esq.,  Dear  Sir:  I  have  received  your  favor  of  Aug.  15th  in- 
viting me  to  attend  the  centennial  celebration  ofthe  surrender  of  Burgoyne 
on  Oct.  17th  at  Schuylerville,  N.  Y.  I  thank  you,  and  through  you  the 
committee,  for  the  honor  of  the  invitation,  and  regret  that  other  engage- 
ment- prevent  me  from  accepting.  Wisliing  you  success  in  your  under- 
taking,   I  remain  very  truly,  D.  M.  Key. 

Department  op  Justice,  Washington,  Aug.  28,  1877.  My  Dear  Sir  : 
I  extremely  regret  that  my  engagements  are  such  as  to  compel  me  to  de- 


cline the  polite  invitation  of  the  committee  to  join  in  the  celebration  of 

~       Bt  -     .-.      . 

Your  obedient  servant, 


tlie  important  event  of  the  surrender  of  Gen.  Burgoyne,  on  the  17th  of 
October. 

Charles  Devens,  Attorney  Oeneral. 


Department  of  the  Interior,  Washington,  Aug.  23,  1877.  Dear 
Sir:  I  have  received  your  kind  invitation  to  attend  the  one  hrndredth  an- 
niversary of  tile  surrender  of  Burgoyne  and  in  reply  re'i;ret  to  f3ay  that  in 
all  |)r<)bability  my  official  duties  will  prevent  my  attendance,  much  as  I 
might  wish  to  be  with  you.    I  have  the  honor  to  bf  Your  obedient  servant, 

C.  SCHURZ. 

Augusta,  Maine,  Oct.  5,  1877.  Dear  Sir:  In  reply  to  your  favor  of 
Sept.  10,  accompanying  the  formal  invitnlion  lo  the  celebration  at  Schuy- 
lerville on  tiie  17tli  inst.,  Mr.  Blaine  ilirects  me  l(.  "'ly  that  imperative  en- 
gagemeiils  in  Washington  render  it  impo8sil>le  to  accept,  otherwise  he 
would  be  very  happy  to  attend.     Very  respeeifuliy, 

T.  H. 'Sherman,  Secretary. 

Stowe,  Vt.,  Aug.  21,  1877  William  L.  Stone,  Esq  ,  Dear  Sir:  As  the 
SuiJienu?  Court  meets  early  in  October,  I  shall  be  unable  to  accept  the 
kind  invitation  ot'  the  committee  to  be  |)resent  at  the  Centennial  anniver- 
sary ofthe  surrender  of  Burgoyne.     Yours  voi*y  truly, 

Jos.  P.  Bradley. 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


165 


Lyme,  Conn.,  Aup.  20,  1877.  Dear  Sir:  I  am  just  in  the  receipt  at  this 
place,  of  your  invilation  to  atleud  lliecelebraliou  of  the  one  liundredlli  an- 
niversary of  tlie  surrender  of  Burgoyne  under  tlie  auspices  of  the  Saratoga 
Monument  Association,  and  regrei  to  say  tliat  my  official  engagements  at 
Washington  will  prevent  niv  acceptance.     Yours  very  respecttully, 

M.  K.  Waite. 

Paris,  September  14, 1877.  Wm.  L.  Stone,  Esq.,  Dear  Sir:  The  invi- 
tation of  your  comuiitlee  only  found  me  the  other  day  in  Scotland.  It 
will  not  be  in  my  power  to  reach  home  in  time  to  be  at  Saratoga  on  the 
17lh  ol  October.  I  hasten  to  thank  you,  however,  and  those  associated 
with  you  in  your  eHorts  to  testify  the  national  appreciation  of  a  battle 
which  —  if  any  one  link  in  the  chain  of  God's  Providences  is  of  more  im- 
portance than  another  —  was  beyond  question  the  most  important  battle 
of  the  Revolution,  it  was  at  Saratoga  that  our  militia  first  became  aware 
of  their  ability  to  cope  successfully  with  English  regulars.  It  was  in  that 
battle  the  Briiish  government  learned  the  lolly,  if  not  the  wickedness  of 
its  unholy  alliance  with  savages.  It  was  the  deteat  of  liurgoyne  which 
practically  decided  France  to  lend  us  her  sword,  thereby  insuring,  it  not 
actually  accomplishing,  our  deliverance.  Such  a  landmark  in  our  history 
can  hiirdly  be  made  too  conspicuous.  It  is  on.^  less  meritorious  to  assist 
in  perpetuating  the  memory  of  important  public  services  than  to  have 
conferred  them.  The  monuments  of  a  nation's  gruiitude  are  ])erhaps  the 
truest  measure  of  its  patriotism  and  the  most  eloquent  propagators  of 
those  distinctive  virtues  by  which  great  states  are  founded,  aggrandized 
and  perpetuated.  Should  it  be  proposed  at  your  galliering  in  October  to 
erect  some  memorial  of  the  Saratoga  victory,  more  durable  —  if  such  a 
thing  be  possible —  than  the  discourse  and  poem  to  be  pronounced  on  that 
occasion,  I  venture  to  solicit  the  privilege  of  associating  myself  with  the 
advocates  of  such  a  proposal  and,  according  to  my  means,  with  any  eti'ort 
looking  to  its  realization.     I  am,  dear  sir,  very  respectfully  yours, 

John  Bigelow. 


Albany  Aug.  32, 1877.  William  L.  Stone  Esq.,  My  dear  S'  ;  I  thank 
you  for  your  kindness  in  sending  me  an  invitation  fnnn  the  Saratoga 
Monument  Association  to  attend  their  celebration  at  ScLuylerville  of  the 
lOOtli  anniversary  of  the  tifleenth  decisive  battle  of  the  world.  Unless 
detained  by  some  unloreseeii  circumstance,  I  shall  not  hiil  to  be  present, 
that  1  may  enjoy  lUt-  luxury  of  sharing  simultaneously  in  the  patriotic 
emotions  of  tlie  lens  of  tliousands  who  will  be  assenil»led  there  on  the 
occasion.     Very  respectfully  yours,  IIenuy  A.  Homes. 


Albany 
invitat 


ANY,  Sept.  1,  1877.  My  dear  Mr.  Stone.  I  thank  you  for  the  kind 
...,..;<.aon  to  be  present  at  the  anniversary  of  the  ITtli  of  October.  From 
your  intimate  knowledge  ol  my  sentiniunis  expressed  to  you  in  our  many 
conversaiions  upon  this  subject,  you  must  feel  assured  llial  notliing  would 
give  me  greater  pleasure  than  to  be  present  on  that  occasion. 

In  limes  like  these,  however,  business  must  receive  the  lirst  and  tlie 
undiviiled  attention;  and  an  iuii)eralive  engagement  on  the  day  of  the 
celebration,  far  away  from  home,  will  oblige  me  to  decline.     Very  cor- 

,l:..ll I/WIXT    Si      U.......,r 


dially  yours 


John  S.  Pekuy. 


I.  Buadley. 


Albany,  Sept.  1,  1877.  Sir:  I  have  the  honor  of  acknowledging  the  re- 
ceipt of  your  very  polite  invilation  to  attend  the  celebration  «)f  the  one 
hundredth  anniversary  of  the  surrender  of  Buigoyne,  and  I  shall  be  most 
hapi)y  to  avail  myself  of  the  same  if  my  official  duties  here  do  not  prevent. 
Thanking  you  lor  very  courteous  attention,  1  remain,  Youis  very  truly, 

FuANKLLN  TovvNBENB,.4c(;u<arti  U«neral,_^ 

22 


166 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


New  Yokk,  October  3,  1877;  My  Dear  Sir:  Your  cordial  invitation  to 
attend  the  anniversary  at  Saratoga  on  the  17th  inst,  has  been  received. 
The  many  centennial  commemorations  in  which  the  people  now  so  heartily 
participate  have  ii  wakened  intense  interest  in  the  early  history  of  our 
country  ;  and,  as  a  teacher,  I  rejoice  in  every  such  celebration.  1  he  anni- 
versary of  an  event  so  important  in  tlie  Revolution,  as  the  surrender  of 
Burgoyne  cannot  fail  to  arouse  every  true  patriot.  Congratulating  you 
upon  the  great  success  of  your  undertaking,  and  thanking  you  for  your 
kind  remembrance.    I  am  most  faithfully  yours,        John  G.  McNaky. 

Utica,  Oct.  8,  1877.  W.  L.  Stone,  Esq.,  My  dear  Sir:  yon  will  re- 
member that  in  acknowleding  the  reception  of  your  invitation  to  be  pre- 
sent at  tlie  interesting  ceremonies  on  the  17th  at  Saratoga,  I  intimated  the 
improbability  of  my  being  able  to  attend.  It  is  now  rendered  quite  cer- 
tain that  I  cannot  "from  the  lact  lliat  congress  will  be  in  session  at  that 
date,  and  my  public  duty  will  require  me  to  be  there.  I  need  not  say  how 
much  I  regret  the  necessity  that  constrains  my  absence.  It  would  be  my 
duty,  as  it  certainly  would  be  my  pleasure,  as  one  of  the  associates  in  the 
board  of  direction,  to  countenance  tiie  enterprise  by  my  presence,  at  least, 
even  if  I  were  able  to  give  to  the  occasion  no  other  aid,  were  it  possible 
for  me  to  attend.  These  celebrations  are  great  educators  of  the  people. 
The  one  at  Oriskany,  in  which  I  was  so  happy  as  to  be  able  to  participate, 
was  such  an  outpouring  of  the  people  as  central  New  York  had  never 
seen,  and  a  most  lively  historical  interest  was  imparted  to  the  important 
events,  which  ti)at  day  commemorated.  I  say"  important"  because,  as  I 
have  had  occasion  to  remark  without  Oriskany,  it  is  quite  doubtful  whether 
we  should  have  had  an>  Sfraioga  to  celehraie.  Saratoga  was  the  grand 
culmination  of  which  Oiii'kany  and  Bennington  were  most  essential  com- 
plements. 

Let  m  add  too  that  the  work  you  have  recently  given  to  the  public  as 
the  frui  >)f  much  labor  an  1  e.xtensive  research,  while  it  may  tend  to  cor- 
rect soiiH'  popular  eirois,  ,ind  should  be  carefully  studied  in  connection 
with  the  whole  story  of  Burgoyne's  marches,  engagements,  and  final  sur- 
render. It  may  call  out  some  discussions  and  even  controversy,  br.t  it 
will  be  wholesome,  if  wisely  and  decorously  conducted,  and,  as  to  the 
result,  I  venture  the  prediction  that  yours  will  be  accepted  as  the  most 
veritable  narrative  of  the  events  of  which  it  treats,  and  the  best  sus- 
tained by  contemporary  and  reliable  authority. 

Renewing  my  regret,  lliat  events  I  am  unable  to  control,  will  prevent 
my  presence  and  participation  in  the  ceremonies  of  the  17ih  —  and  trusting 
it  will  be,  as  I  cannot  doubt  it  must  be,  in  all  respects,  x  most  successful 
demonstration,  I  remain,  with  much  regard.     Your  obedient  servant, 

^M.  J.  Bacon. 


Utica,  N.  Y.,  October  15, 1877.  Hon.  William  L.  Stone  :  Contrary  to 
my  expectations  I  shall  be  prevented  tnmi  attending  your  celebration  of 
the  surrender  of  Burgoyne.  The  campaign  of  which  that  was  the  con- 
summation, had  such  importance  in  securing  our  independence,  and 
especially  is  so  brilliant  anil  momentous  a  chapter  in  the  history  of  New 
York,  that  our  peoi)le  cannot  recall  it  too  often,  nor  mark  it  with  monu- 
ments too  grand  and  resplendent.  Your  celebration  will  summon  so  many 
and  such  distinguished  :^ien,  that  my  absence  will  not  be  observed,  but  to 
myself  it  is  a  source  of  regret  and  disappointment.     Yours  very  truly, 

Ellis  H.  Roberts. 


Fire  Island,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  4th,  1877.  Wm.  L.  Stone,  Esq.,  My  Dear 
Sir:  Your  kind  invitation  of  the  28lh  ult.,  directed  to  nie  at  Utica  has 
been  forwarded  to  me  at  tiiis  place.    Your  kind  invitation  to  be  present 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


167 


ivitation  to 
n  received, 
so  heartily 
tory  of  our 
1  lie  anni- 
Lirrender  of 
jlnting  you 
3U  for  your 
McNaky. 

^ron  will  re- 
in to  be  pre- 
itimated  the 
L'd  quite  cer- 
;sion  lit  that 
not  say  how 
V  oil  Id  be  my 
ciates  in  tlie 
nee,  at  least, 
•e  it  possible 
f  the  people. 
[)  participate, 
k  had  never 
lie  important 
because,  as  I 
)tful  whether 
k-as  the  grand 
isseiitial  com- 

the  public  as 

tend  to  cor- 

n  connection 

land  tinal  sur- 

versy,  br.t  it 

d,  as  to  the 

as  the  most 

the  best  sus- 

will  prevent 
and  trusting 
|)st  successful 
servant, 
J.  Bacon. 

Contrary  to 
telebraiion  of 
was  the  con- 
.■ndence,  and 
jtory  of  New 
it  with  monu- 
Vnon  so  many 
served,  but  to 
[ery  truly, 

ROBKKTB. 

sq.,  My  Dear 
frti  Utica  has 
to  be  preseat 


with  you  as  one  of  the  vice  presidents  in  your  exercises  of  the  17th  of 
Oct.,  has  not  been  received  by  nie.  I  am  here  as  a  victim  of  hay  fever 
which  will  not  permit  any  escape  until  the  lO'h  of  Sept.  On  my  return 
to  Utica,  and  by  the  24tli  of  Sept.  I  shall  be  able  to  ascertain  whether  it 
will  be  in  my  power  to  accept  your  kind  invitation  and  I  will  then  write 
to  you  again. 

It',  in  any  way,  I  can  aid  you  in  your  good  work  do  not  hesitate  to  call 
on  me  by  letter  or  otherwise.    Sincerely  yours,       'John  F.  Seymour. 

Cambridge,  Sept.  13,  1877.  My  Dear  Sir:  I  regret  extremely  that  I 
cannot  comply  with  your  request.  But  I  have  not  a  moment's  leisure  for 
anything  beyond  the  imperative  demands  upon  my  time,  and  must  beg  to 
be  excused.    Yours  truly,  Henry  W.  Longfellow. 

Beverly  Farms,  Mass.,  Aug.  25th,  1877.  Gentlemen  :  I  regret  that  my 
engagements  will  not  permit  me  to  have  the  privilege  and  pleasure  of 
attending  the  celebration  of  the  hundredth  anniversary  of  Burgoyne's 
surrender,  at  Schuylerville,  to  which  you  have  kindly  invited  me.  Very 
truly  yours,  O.  W.  Holmes. 

Worcester,  Sept.  4, 1877.  My  Dear  Sir :  M^  public  duties  will  deprive 
me  of  the  great  pleasure  of  accepting  your  invitation  for  Oct.  17.  I  am, 
yours  very  respectfully,  Geo.  F.  Hoar. 

Burlington,  Vt.,  Aug.  35lh,  1877.  Dear  Sir:  Have  youis  of  the  15th 
inst.,  inviting  me  to  attend  the  celebration  of  the  Centennial  anniversary 
of  the  surrender  of  Bprgoyne.  I  regret  that  the  session  of  congress  called 
for  the  15ih  of  October  will  prevent  my  attendance.  I  rejoice  that  you 
are  to  celebrate  that  most  important  event.  It  was  a  great  white  st(me, 
set  up  in  the  long  anil  dreary  pathway  of  the  Revolution.  As  distance 
from  a  mountain  is  necessary  to  enable  us  to  see  correctly  its  greatness 
and  proportions,  so  the  distance  of  time  from  which  we  now  observe  it, 
the  grandeur  of  the  Revolution  that  has  now  given  to  us  as  its  happy  fruit, 
not  only  the  memories  of  great  soldiers  and  wise  statesmen,  but  one  country 
of  freemen  justly  inyoicing  in  universal  liberty  under  a  government  at  once 
separate  and  united  and  with  peace  and  order  everywhere.  The  century 
now  past  should  be  an  inspiration  to  our  repiiblic  of  cjiizens  and  of  states 
for  the  development  in  the  next  and  all  succeeding  ones<»f  that  happiness 
and  prosperity  lliiitshould  grow  more  and  more  from  universal  liberty  and 
the  reign  of  equal  law.  Thanking  you  for  your  courteous  invitation,  I  am, 
Very  truly  yours,  Geo.  F.  Edmunds." 

Burlington,  Vt.  Aug.,  21, 1877.  My  Dear  Sir:  I  have  to  thank  your 
committee  for  tlie  invitation  received  this  morning,  to  attend  the  celebra- 
tion at  Schuylerville,  :)n  the  17th  of  October.  I  very  much  regret  that 
professional  engagements  at  that  time,  will  deprive  me  of  the  pleasure  of 
accepting  it.  No  event  in  the  Revolution  is  more  eminently  worthy  of 
special  commemoration,  than  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne.  1  trust  your 
celebration  will  be  in  every  respect  a  success,  worthy  of  the  occasion,  and 
of  the  gentlemen  who  have  it  in  charge.     With  much  respect. 

Very  sincerely  yours,  E.  J.  Phelps. 

Burlington,  Vt.,  Oct  9,  1877.  My  Dear  Sir :  I  have  delayed,  until 
now,  a  reply  to  your  invitatioji  to  attend  the  celebration  of  Burgoyne's 
surrender,  set  for  the  17th  of  October,  hoping  that  I  should  be  able  to  be 
present.  I  regret  to  say,  that  I  tind  it  impossible.  The  16th  of  August  at 
Bennington,  and  the  iftli  of  October  on  the  plains  of  Saratoga,  are  bound 
together  as  fjH^ts  of  a  series  —  the  beginning  and  the  ending — associated 
in  the  memories  of  either  day,  and  well  deserving  the  recognition  which 


168 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


the  first  received  at  the  centennial  observance  at  Benninicton,  and  the 
latter  the  crnwninjr  work,  shall  receive,  upon  the  field  of  that  event, 
after  lis  hundred  vears  of  memory  and  influence.  "  The  Green  Mountain 
Boy,"  and  the  "  Yorlter  "  must  he  at  one  aa  tliey  look  upon  oitlier  monu- 
ment, and  80, 1  trust,  they  sliall  ever  he  in  all  patriotic  actions. 

With  great  respect,  t  am  your  obedient  servant,  Danikl  Roheiits. 

Boston,  Mass.  ,  Aup.  30,  1877.  My  Dear  ]V  r.  Stone.  Returning  last 
night  from  a  journey,  I  find  your  kind  invitati(  n  to  the  Saratoga  festival 
in  October,  and  regret  that  I  shall  be  preven.ed  by  engagements  from 
being  present  on  so  interesting  an  occasion.     Yours  verv  tndy, 

F.  Paukman. 


8, 

t;>' 


18' 


*ri- 


i  '.  Dear  Sir:  Your  very  kind  note  of  the  6th, 
;  invilation  to  he  present  at  Saratoga  on  the  17th 
vice  presidents,  at   the  celebration,  is   at  hand. 

.    'ite  your  kindness  and  hope  to  be  able 


to  be 


Newport,  0:?t. 
acccmipanying 
and  act  as  on^' 
Be  assured  tha> 
present. 

I  regret  to  say  this  .je  lat  vere  illness  of  Gov.  Van  Zandt  will  prevent 
his  making  the  journey.  It  w  lyi'd  be  unsafe  for  him  to  do  so.  I  saw  him 
yesterday,  and  to-day  he  rode  out  a  short  way  in  a  close  carriage  for  the 
first  time  since  his  return  from  the  West.  I  sliall  try  to  arrange  to  loave 
here  on  Monday  night  and  hope  to  meet  you  on  the  old  battle  grounci. 

Very  truly  yours,        S.  G.  Aknold. 

Stqckbridge,  Mass.,  Oct.  11,  '77.  My  patriotic  co-worker,  Mr.  Stone: 
No  man  who  will  stand  on  the  "  Field  of  Grounded  Arms  "  on  the  cen- 
tennial anniversary  will  carry  in  his  bosom  a  heart  iiiore  full  of  rejoicing 
than  mine,  which  must  necessarily  keep  time  at  home  to  the  glad  pulsa- 
tions of  the  thousands  who  will  sliout  over  the  corner  stone.  To  think 
that,  after  years  of  labor,  discouragement  and  vexation  over  disappoint- 
ment on  every  hand,  we  have  begun  to  witness  tlie  fulfillment  of  our  long 
deferred  hopes,  is  a  glory  as  well  as  a  joy. 

1  feel  that,  when  the  foundation  stone  of  our  long  desired  memorial  is 
dulv  and  deftly  laid,  the  people  of  the  Empire  slate,  if  not  of  otlier  states, 
will  generously. rally  for  the  superstructure,  nor  feel  content  till  its  proud 
summit  has  received  its  cap-stone  and  stands  in  its  grandeur,  "  heir  of  the 
sunset  and  herald  «f  the  morning."  Under  the  stimulus  of  oratory  and 
patriotism,  our  enterprise  must  receive  its  title-deed  to  complete  success. 
Glorious  will  be  the  day  when  the  captured  cannon  of  Burgoyne  shall  tell 
tlje  land  in  thunder  tones,  that  the  work  has  been  acconiplished.  I  can 
almost  fauCT  the  bones  of  both  my  grandsires  stirring  in  their  graves  at 
tjje  peals  oijoy  on  the  field  where  they  witnessed  the  great  sunender. 

Very  truly  yours,    E.  W.  B.  Canning. 

Nabragansett Pier,  Aug.  24, 1877.  My  Dear  Stone:  I  have  just  re- 
ceived your  invitation  to  be  present  at  the  celebration  of  the  centennial 
anniversary  of  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne.  I  must  congratulate;  you  on 
the  success,  which  las  crowned  your  arduous  labors  in  preparing  the  pub- 
lic for  a  fitting  comnji;r>ioration  of  this  great  event.  It  would  give  me 
the  greatest  pleasure  to  p^-ticipate  in  tlie  celebration,  but  my  ofliicial  en- 
gagements render  it  impossible  for  me  to  do  fso.  Thanking  you  for  your 
courteous  invitation,    I  am  as  ever,    Youvrf  most  truly, 

James  B.  Angell. 

Buffalo,  Oct.  10, 1877.  Gent. :  Thanks  for  your  invitation  to  attend 
the  centennial  anniversary  of  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne.  I  wish  it  were 
so  that  I  could  go.  I  am  reluctantlv  compelled  to  decline.  My  best 
wishes  attend  you  at  the  gathering.     Very  respectfullv  yours, 

6.  H.  Marshall. 


THE  Surrender  op  Burgoyne. 


169 


Salt  Lakk  City,  Utah,  Oct.  8. 1877.  William  L.  Stone,  Esq.,  My  Dear 
Sir:  I  received  your  kind  invitation  to  be  present  on  the  17th  inst. ,  on  the 
fjround  where  Rurgoyne  surrendered,  and  join  in  tl>e  celebration  of  the  one 
hundredth  anniversary  of  that  great  event.  If  it  were  only  to  visit  again 
the  scenes  amid  which  I  spent  the  earliest  years  of  my  childhood,  and 
near  which  I  spent  my  early  manhood ;  if  it  were  only  once  more  to  pass 
over  the  historic  field  that  gave  its  name  to  the  reginient,  "The  Bemis 
Heights  Heginient,"  which  I  had  the  honor  to  command  in  the  late  war 
for  the  Union  ;  if  it  were  only  for  these  reasons,  I  should  desire  to  he  with 
you.  But  your  invitation  has  even  greater  inducements  for  me  than  these. 
Perhaps  the  greatest  achievements  of  the  revolutionary  period  were  the 
Dec!!'.'"ntion  of  Independence,  tlie  victory  of  Saratoga,  and  the  Federal 
Constitution,  and  the  first  and  the  list  of  these  turned  upon  the  second  as 
upon  a  pivot.  Without  that  victory  the  Declaration  woidd  have  gone 
for  naught,  and  the  Constitution  would  never  have  existed.  The  battle 
of  Saratoga,  the  most  important  in  our  Revolution,  has  been  pronounced 
one  of  the  "fiiteen  decisive  l)attles  <>f  the  world."  How  strange  that 
success  in  such  a  battle  should  seem  to  have  de|>cnded  upon  an  accident! 
Tiie  British  war  minister  wrote  per(;mi)tory  orders  to  llowe  to  supper* 
Burgoyne,  then  put  the  order  in  a  pigeon-hole  and  forgot  to  send  i. 
Howe  marched  to  Philadelphia  and  not  to  Saratoga.  Was  it  an  accidei.!  ? 
In  God's  government,  whether  of  matter  or  of  mind,  there  are  no  '"ici- 
dents.  Who  can  doubt  that  it  was  and  is  in  the  order  of  Provide.  C3, 
that  this  republic  should  be  founded,  and  should  survive  all  ussaullf  from 
without  and  all  dissensi(ms  fnmi  within? 

"The  riKht  is  with  us,  God  is  with  tho  right. 
And  victory  is  with  God  1" 

The  distance  is  so  great,  and  my  engagements  are  such,  that  i  mnot 
be  present,  on  the  17th  inst.,  on  the  ground  where  Burgoyne  surrendered. 
I  must,  therefore,  content  myself  with  thanking  you  for  inviting  me  to 
participate  in  so  interesting  an  occasion.  I  am,  very  respectfully.  Your 
obedient  servant,  '  James  B.  M<  Kean. 

Peohia,  III.,  Aug.  7th,  1877.  Gen.  E.  F.  Bullard,  Dear  Sir:  I  do  not 
believe  it  will  be  possible  for  me  to  be  with  you  on  the  imniortal  17th  of 
Oct.    I  thank  you  heartily  and  sincerely  for  the  invitation.    Yours  truly, 

R.  G.  Ingersoll. 

WoODSiDE,  Ky.,  Sept.  Ist,  1877.  Wm.  L.  Stone,  Esq.,  My  Dear  Sir:  I 
have  the  pleasure  of  acknowledging  your  ccmrteous  invitation  to  visit 
Schuylerville  and  participate  in  the  celebrati(m  of  the  one  hundredth  an- 
niversary of  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne,  "  as  one  of  the  vice  presidents  of 
the  day.  This  compliment  I  highly  appreciite  ;  and  unless  prevented  by 
circumstances  on  which  I  have  no  control,  I  will  be  with  you  on  that 
occasion.  Again  returning  you  my  thanks  for  the  honor  conferred. 
I  remain,  Yours  most  respectfully.  -Col.  Clarence  S.  Bate. 


J.  Angell. 


Elizabethtown,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  24,  1877.  My  Dear  Sir;  I  thank  you 
for  your  kind  invitation  to  attend  the  Burgoyne  centennial.  If  possible 
you  may  be  sure  I  will  not  fail  to  attend,  but  my  engagements  for  the 
month  are  very  pressi:ig  and  I  fear  I  may  fail.  You  know  how  j^reat  an 
interest  I  have  always  taken  in  the  history  of  Burgoyne's  campaign,  the 
turning  point  of  our  Revolution  and  so  of  American  history.  I  trust  and 
indeed  am  sure  it  will  be  worthily  celebrated.    Very  truly  yours, 

Rob.  8.  Hale. 


Executive  Department,  State  of  Connecticut,  Hartford,  Oct.  5,  1877. 
Sir :  I  beg  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  very  courteous    i  vitation  to 


170 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


1^^ 


'■''f. 


attend  the  celebration  of  tlic  one  hnndrcilth  anniversary  of  the  surrender 
of  Burgojiic.  Regretting  tluit  I  am  obliged  to  deny  myself  the  pleasure, 
and  thanking  you  for  your  courtesy,  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Your  ob't 
serv't,  R.  D.  Hubbard. 

Boston,  Oct.  1,  1877.  William  L.  Stone,  Esq.,  Dear  Sir:  I  am  di- 
rected by  Ills  excellency,  the  governor,  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your 
very  courteous  invitation  to  attend  tiie  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the 
surrender  at  Saratoga,  on  the  17th  inst.,and  to  communicate  to  you  his 
regret  that  public  and  official  duties  will  compel  ids  presence  within  the 
commonwealth  at  that  time.     I  am  Sir,  with  high  resjject,  etc. 

Q.  H.  Campbell,  Private  Secretary. 

State  of  Kentucky,  Executive  Department,  Frankfort,  Sept.  4, 1877. 
William  L.  Stone,  Esq.,  Dear  Sir:  Yours  of  recent  tJate  in  behalf  of  the 
Saratoga  Monument  Association,  inviting  me  to  atten.l  the  celebration  of 
the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  surrender  of  F>urgoyne,  is  at  hand 
and  I  regret  that  offlcidl  engagements  will  prevent  'iiy  attendance.  Very 
respectfully,  James  B.  McCreary. 

Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania,  Executive  Chamber,  Harrisburg, 
Aug.  22,  1877.  Gentlemen:  1  beg  h'ave  to  acknowledge  your  cordial 
invitation  to  attend  the  celebration  of  tlie  annivesary  of  the  surrender  of 
Burgoyne  on  the  seventeenth  of  next  October,  and  regret  that  my  proba- 
ble engagements  and  the  uncertainty  of  affairs  in  Pennsylvania  for  the 
next  few  months,  will  not  permit  nu;  to  accept  the  same.  The  occasion 
is  one  of  so  much  interest,  that  1  should  like  extremely  to  participate. 
Under  the  circumstances  1  can  only  return  to  the  Saratoga  Monument 
Association  my  tlianks  for  their  kind  remembrance  and  wish  them  and 
the  occasion  the  greatest  success  and  enjoyment.  I  am,  gentlemen,  with 
high  regards.     Yours  very  truly,  J.  P,  Hartranft. 

State  of  Arkansas,  Executive  Office  Little  Rock,  Sept.  3,  1877. 
William  L.  Stone,  Esq.,  Dear  Sir:  Your  invitation  to  attend  the  one 
hundredth  anniversary  of  the  surrender  at  Saratoga,  is  received.  I  wish 
that  it  might  be  possible  for  me  to  attend,  but  have  to  regret  that  pressure 
of  official  duties,  at  home,  will  i)robably  prevent.  Centennial  commemo- 
ti<ms  are  frequent  enough,  just  now  ;  but  that  of  Burgoyne's  surrender  is 
one  of  exceptional  interest.  The  event,  as  recorded  in  "history,  is  one  of 
those  whicli  linger  in  the  recollection  ot  every  patriotic  American,  and  go 
to  assist  tiie  fund  of  feeling  which  makes  us  one  people.  A  common  an- 
cestry, a  conimon  glory,  )i  common  jjiide,  are  the  strongest  links  to  bind  a 
nation  together,  and  the  best  guaranteeof  stability  for  our  political  institu- 
tions.   Very  respectfully,  your  ob'dt  serv't,  W.  R.  Miller, 

Governor  of  Arkansas, 

State  of  Mississippi,  Executive  Department,  Jackson,  Miss.,  Aug.  22, 
1877.  William  L.  Stone,  Esq.,  Dear  Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknow- 
ledge receipt  of  your  courteous  invitation,  to  attend  the  celebration  of  the 
one  hundredth  anniversary  ot  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne,  (m  the  17lh  of 
October.  Fully  sympathizing  with  the  objects  and  purposes  of  the  occa- 
sion, I  should  esteem  it  a  great  pleasure  to  attend,  but  my  engagements 
will  be  such  at  that  time  as  to  compel  me  to  deny  myself  that  pleasure, 
V(;ry  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant,  J.  M.  Stone. 

State  of  Colorado,  Executive  Department,  Denver,  Aug.  22,  1877. 
Wm.  L.  Stone,  Esq.,  Dear  Sir:  In  the  absence  of  Governor  Ruutt,  I  reply 
to  your  invitati(ni  of  the  15th  iiist.  by  saying  that  he  will  not  probably  be 
able  to  accept,  by  reason  of  certain  official  duties  in  the  selection  of  public 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyns. 


171 


the  surrender 
r  the  pleasure, 
be,  Your  ob't 

.  HUBBAUD. 

Sir  :  I  am  di- 

recelpt  of  your 

versiiry  ot  tlie 

ate  to  j'ou  Ills 

ice  within  the 

etc. 

,te  Secretary. 

Sept.  4, 1877. 
I  belialf  of  tlic 
celebration  of 
■ne,  is  at  hand 
xlance.  Very 
McCreary. 

er,  Harrisburg, 
e  your  cordial 
le  surrender  of 
hat  my  proba- 
Ivania  lor  the 
The  occasion 
to  participate, 
i^a  Monument 
^ish  them  and 
nth'men,  with 
Iartranft. 

Sept.  3,  1877. 
tteiid  the  one 

ived.     I  wish 

that  pressure 
ial  commemo- 
surrender  is 
ory,  is  one  of 
erican,  and  go 

common  an- 
inks  to  bind  a 

litical  institu- 

MlLLER, 

>/  Arkansas. 

liss.,  Aug.  22, 
or  to  acknow- 
bration  of  the 
m  the  17th  of 
!8  of  the  occa- 

engagemenls 
that  pleasure, 

M.  Stone. 

ug.  22,  1877. 
Ritult,  I  reply 
t  probably  be 
tion  of  public 


lands,  etc.,  which  will  require  his  presence  In  the  state  at  the  time  of  v'^tir 
celebraticm.  He  will  advise  you  definitely  upon  his  return,  which  will  be 
within  a  fortnight.     Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

John  M.  Reioart,  Private  Secretary. 

Providence,  Aug.  22, 1877.  William  L.  Stone,  Esq.,  Dear  Sir :  Your 
polite  invitation  to  attend  the  celebration  of  the  one  hundredth  anniver- 
sary of  the  surrender  at  S  ratot')'  came  duly  to  hand.  It  was  addressed 
to  myself  individually,  but  oi"  couise,  was  intended  for  the  present  jjover- 
iw-r,  Van  Zandt.  1  hav  •  forwarded  the  invitat' »n  and  he  will  undoubt- 
edly cordially  respond  to  it.     Very  truly  j-ours,  Henry  Lippitt, 

Ex-Governor  of  Rhode  Inland. 

State  of  Rhode  Island,  Executive  Department,  Newport,  Sept.  7, 
1877.  Dear  Sir.  Your  favor  is  received,  and  I  shall  be  gratified  to  be 
present  with  my  adjutant  general  and  the  six  nuMiibers  of  my  personal 
staff  at  your  celebration  of  tlieonehunci;;.H!t!!  anniversary  of  the  surrender 
of  Bui-goyne  on  the  17lh  of  October  next.  With  great  respect,  most  truly 
yours,  Cuas.  C.  Van  Zandt, 

Goverru/r, 

State  of  New  Jersey,  Executive  Department,  Trenton,  Oct.  8, 1877. 
Wni.  L.  St(me,  Esq.,  My  Ue.irSir  :  Permit  nic  to  thaiii;  you  and  the  com- 
mittee for  the  honor  t)f  an  invitation  to  be  present  ,>ii  the  17th  inst.,  at  the 
centennial  of  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne. 

I  find  that  it  is  impossible  to  acci  pt^owiiig  to  official  duties  here.  This 
I  really  regret,  as  the  occasion  will  not  only  be  pleasurable  but  will  com- 
memorate one  of  the  brightest  and  most  important  events  of  the  Revolution. 

Again  thankiug  you,  and  wishing  thai  the  day  may  be  a  success  as  it 
cannot  be  otherwise.  I  am  yours,  very  respectfully,  J.  D.  Bedle. 

Martha's  Vineyard,  Aug.  23.  My  Dear  Sir:  Your  very  polite  invita- 
tion to  participate  in  the  celebration  of  the  one  hundredth  aniiiversaiy  of 
the  surrender  of  Burgoyne  reached  me  ye.steiday.  1  regret  that  it  will 
not  be  in  my  power  t«)  witness  the  interesting  ceremonies  of  the  occasicm, 
and  be^  tliat'you  v\  ill  convey  to  the  gentlemen  of  tlie  committee  my  thanks 
for  their  courtesy,  and  my  regret  that  I  cannot  avail  myself  of  it.  With 
my  best  wishes  for  the  complete  success  of  the  celebration, 

I  am  very  respectfully  yours,  Geo.  B.  McClellan. 

Oregon,  Executive  OfBce,  Salem,  Sept.  12, 1877.  Hon.  Wm.  L.  Stone, 
Sir:  1  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  courteous  in- 
vitation to  attend  the  celebration  of  the  one  hundredih  anniversary  of  the 
battle  of  Saratoga.  I  fully  appreciate  the  importauce  ol  the  event  that  this 
celebrati<m  is  designed  to  commemorate.  The  least  observing  student  of 
American  history  must  see  that  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne  was  the  turn- 
ing point  of  the  Revoluticm.  It  gave  the  colonist>j  a  confidence  in  the 
stability  and  ultimate  triumph  of  the  infant  republic  which  never  after- 
wards deserted  them,  and  \n  unquestionably  brought  to  their  aid  the  French 
alliance.  I  have  no  donbt  that  your  proposed  celebration  will  be  an  oc- 
casion of  much  interest,  and  1  therefore  so  much  the  more  regret  the  fact 
that  my  official  duties  will  not  permit  me  to  attend.  Very  respectfully, 
your  obedient  servant,  S.  F.  Chadwick, 

Governor  of  Oregon. 

Wisconsin,  Executive  Department,  Madison,  Sept.  25,  1877.  Wm.  L. 
Stone,  Esq.  Dear  Sir :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
your  valued  invitation  to  attend  the  celebration  of  the  one  hund'edth 
anniversary  of  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne,  and  to  convey  to  you  my 


172 


Centennial  Celebration. 


?( 


sincere  regret,  that  urgent  duties  will  prevent  my  acceptance  of  the  same, 
Were  it  possible  for  mc  to  be  present  on  ho  interesting  and  lilslnric  an  oc- 
cusion,  I  would  most  gladly  have  availed  myself  of  your  dislinguislied 
courtesy.  Yours  with  respect,  II.  Ludinoton. 

Governor  of  Winconsin. 

o 

New  Orleans,  August  27,  1877.  Dear  Sir :  Your  kind  invitation  to 
attend  tlie  celebration  of  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  Uurgoyiie's 
surrender  at  Schuylerville,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  17,  1877,  is  accented.  Thanks. 
Truly  yours,  8. 13.  Packaud. 

Commonwealth  of  Virginia,  Governor's  office,  Richmond,  Sept.  5, 
1877.  William  L.  Slone,  Esq.,  Dear  Sir :  Your  letter  inviting  me  to 
attend  the  celebration  of  the  17th  proximo,  at  Schuylerville,  New  York, 
is  received  as  a  highly  appreciated  honor;  and  I  regret  that  my  other  en- 
gagements forbid  me  the  privilege  of  uniting  with  you  on  an  occasion  so 
interesting.     Yours  very  respectfully,  James  L.  Kemper. 

Maine,  Executive  Department,  Augusta,  Aug.  28,  1877.  Mr.  Wil- 
liam L.  Stone,  Dear  Sir :  I  beg  you  will  receive  my  sincere  acknow- 
ledgments of  your  courtesy  in  inviting  me  to  attend  the  celebralicm  of  the 
one  liundredth  anniversary  of  the  surrender  at  Saratoga,  on  the  seventeenth 
day  of  October  next,  and  my  regrets  that  I  cannot  be  present  on  that  in- 
teresting occasion.     Yours  very  respectfully.  Selden  Connor, 

Qovernor  of  Maine. 


St.  Johnsbury,  Oct.  10,  1877.  William  L.  Stone,  Esq.,  My  Dear  Sir : 
I  duly  received  your  very  courteous  invitation  to  attend  the  Centennial 
celebration  of  Burgoyne's  surrender  at  Schuylerville  on  the  17th  instant, 
and  I  have  hoped  to  avail  myself  of  that  plasure,  but  at  this  late  day  I  find 
that  unavoidable  business,  official  and  private,  will  prevent  my  attendance, 
which  I  nuich  regret.  Tlianking  you  for  your  very  kind  invitation,  I  re- 
main. Yours  very  respectfully,  Horace  Faihbanks, 

Qovernor  of  Vermont. 


APPENDIX. 


*  m»»  * 


ARCHITECT'S  STATEMENT. 

To  the  Building  Committee  of  t/ie  Saratoga  Monument : 

Gentlemi^i;  :  The  foundalion  of  the  tnounmcnt  is  built.  It  is  of  con- 
crete, thirty-eight  feet  square  and  eiglit  feet  tliick.  One  quarter  of  the 
granite  plintli  or  base  is  also  built.  D.  A.  Bullard,  of  tlie  executive  com- 
mittee, has  been  an  efficient  auxiliary  in  soliciting  aid,  purchase  of  material 
and  employing  of  labor,  to  carry  to  asucccssful  completion  tiic  work  re- 
quired preparatory  to  laying  the  corner  stone.  Much  of  tiie  labor  and 
material  has  been  donated  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  vicinity  ;  the  granite 
corner  stone  was  given  by  Booth  Brothers,  of  New  York,  at  a  cost  of 
f300.  It  is  of  Cape  Ann  granite  They  also  furnished,  under  contract, 
the  granite  used  in  building  the  quarter  of  the  plinth  ;  tl>e  blue  stone  was 
given  by  Monta,  of  Sandy  Hill.  The  master  mason  employed  was  John 
Matthews.  Ihe  detail  drawings  for  t lie  granite  were  made  by  William  T. 
Markham  in  New  York,  the  stone  being  cut  partly  in  New  Y'ork,  and 
partly  at  the  quarry,  shipped  to  New  York,  and  then  transferred  to  a 
canal  boat  and  taken  to  Schuylerville  and  set  without  litting  or  cutting- 
The  work  has  progressed  rapidly  and  without  accident ;  and  to-day  the 
corner  stone  is  to  be  laid  by  the  ancient  and  honorable  Order  of  Free 
Masons,  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  state  of  New  York  performing  the 

ceremony. 

J.  C.  Markham,  Architect. 
SchuylervUle,  N.  T.,  Oct.  17, 1877. 


28 


174 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


LIVING  DESCENDANTS  OF  THOSE  WHO  FOUGHT  IN 
THE  BATTLES  OF  SARATOGA  1777,  AS  FAR  AS  AS- 
CERTAINED. 

Collected  by  Samuel  Wells  of  Schuylerville,  N.  Y. 


NAME. 

Layfayette  S.  Foster, 
Lemuel  PI.  Hardin, 
Martin  D.  Hardin, 
Aust'-"  A.  Yates,    - 
John  Brisbin, 
Josiah  St."  John, 
Herman  St.  John, 
R.  D.  Pahnatier,     - 
Stephen  T.  Burt, 
Killian  D.  Winney, 
Hurland  Baker, 
Manton  Marble, 
John  Austin  Stevens, 
John  A.  Bryan, 
J.  D.  Billings,    - 
Jeremiah  McCreedy, 
Robert  Bryan,    - 
Stephen  S.  Dunn,    - 
Lewis  Ostrander, 
James  S.  Ostrander, 
Frank  Walworth, 
Nathan  A.  Wells,   - 
John  Dunham,    - 
John  H.  Dunham, 
George  McCreedy, 
Henry  McCreedy,   - 
William  A.  Dunn, 
Judson  Ostrander, 
David  Brisbin,    - 
Charles  Neilson, 
E.  R.  Mann, 
George  Dunn, 


RE8IDXNCB. 

Norwich,  Corm.y 
Louisville,  Ky, 


M 


(( 


Schenectady,  N.    Y. 
St.  Paul,  Minn. 
Brooklyn,  iV".  Y. 
Luzerne,  JV.  Y. 
Waterford,N.  Y. 
Northuraherland,  N.    Y. 

Mechanicsville,  N.  Y. 
New  York  City,  N.  Y. 


.( 

(( 

({ 

<( 

(t 

u 

M 

(( 

«< 

(C 

u 

<t 

Saratoga  Springs,  N.  Y. 


M 

(( 
(I 


U 


(( 
(( 
(( 


Fittsjield,  III. 
<(         if 

M  U 

Cohoes,  N.  Y. 


(I 


(I 


Stillwater,  N.  Y. 

Ihrt  Edward,   ¥.  Y. 
Ketchuni's  Cor j;  firs,  N.  Y. 
Ballston,  Spa. 


(( 


(( 


THE  Surrender  of  Burgotne. 


175 


JGHT  IN 

R  AS  AS- 

Samuel  Wells,   - 
Oliver  Brisbin, 
George  Strover, 

James  H.  Dillingham,      - 

E,  N.  Y. 

Samuel  St.  John, 

Gorden  Van  Valkenburgh, 

•> 

Charles  Van  Valkenburgh, 

David  Crane, 

William  H.  McCreedy,       - 

:  Y. 

Peter  G.  Gillett,      - 

/. 

Marcus  Carey,    - 

r. 

Alanson  Welch, 

• 

Lorenzo  D.  Welch,      - 

r. 

Nathan  Welch, 

id,  iV.    Y. 

Dudley  Welch, 

(( 

P.  Curtis, 

,  N.  Y. 

C.  Curtis, 

y,  N.  Y. 

George  McCreedy, 

(( 

William  McCreedy,    - 

(( 

John  McCreedy, 

{( 

Samuel  McCreedy, 

(( 

V.  W.  Ostrander, 

ng%,  N.  Y. 

W.  S,  Ostrander, 

i              « 

Cornelius  B.  VV  inne. 

(              « 

Valorus  Winne, 

I              « 

S.  H.  Winne, 

(              « 

Douw  F.  Winne, 

Seward  Winne, 

Schuylerville,  N.  Y. 


(i 


« 


i( 

{< 

IC 

{( 

u 

II 

tt 

{( 

II 

11 

II 

II 

II 

II 

(1 

II 

II 

II 

II 

II 

II 

II 

II 

11 

II 

II 

II 

K 

II 

II 

II 

II 

II 

II 

II 

II 

II 

II 

It 

II 

II 

II 

II 

II 

M 

M 

M 

M 

M 

II 

(1 

(1 

ROSTER  OF  THOSE  OF  THE  GOVERNOR'S  FOOT 
GUARD  OF  HARTFORD,  CONN.,  WHO  WERE  PR^-.- 
SENT  AT  THE  BURGOYNE  CENTENNIAL  CELE- 
BRATR)N. 

Wm.  H.  Talcott,  -        -        .        -  Major  Commandant. 

A.  H.  Wiley,      ....  Capt.  and  \st  Lieut. 

W.  E.  Eitton,  ■        -        -        •  2d  Lieut. 

R.  D.  Burdick,  •        •        •        •  3d  Lieut. 

S.  E.  Ilascall,         ....  nh  Lieut. 


176 


Centennial  Celebration  of 


V 


1st  John  D.  Trcker. 
2c?  James  C.  Pratt. 
3c?  C.  C.  Strong. 
4th  T.  J.  Lewis. 


C.  B.  Lenourd. 
W.  W.  Bronson. 
Samuel  Allen. 
W.  D.  Main. 


John  H.  Allen. 
W.  S.  Andrews. 
Samuel  J.  Bidwell. 
Frank  C.  Burr. 
J.  M.  Boyle. 
Robert  Boyce. 
P.  T.  Bolton. 
E.  T.  Bowers. 
W.  G.  Cowles. 
J.  P.  Collord. 
D,  D.  Donovan. 
K.  J.  Dwyer. 
W.  S.  Dwyer. 
H.  E.  Easterly. 
A.  H.  Embler. 
Thos.  Fox. 
Chas.  U.  Frazicr. 
A.  W.  Gleason. 
T.  II  Goodrich. 
C.  E.  Gilbert. 
J.  J.  Goodacre, 
0.  G.  Goodell. 
Jas  Hull. 
J.  P.  Haff,  Jr. 


Sergeants. 


5th  L.  N.  Hillman. 
1th  T.  C.  Naedele. 
Sth  Thomas  Hewitt. 


Corporals. 


E.  M.  Quigley. 
J.  A.  Downing. 
J.  Robt.  Dwyer. 


Privates. 


John  H.  Hale. 
L.  A.  Hitchcock. 
Frank  Halloner,  Jr. 
Thos.  H.  Hewitt. 
Augustus  Loomis. 
Horace  G.  Lord. 
Thos.  Moran. 
J.  H.  Mannix. 
It.  D.  McMannus. 
G.  A.  J.  Naedele. 
F.  D.  Newell. 
Jas.  Officer. 
Thos.  Oakes. 
John  Propson. 
Edwin  Smith. 
E.  D.  Sessions. 
Jacob  Stern. 
Frank  Stone. 
William  B.  Wells. 
Alfred  Williams. 
Geo.  II.  Williams. 
H.  O.  Whitney. 
Frank  G.  Wells. 


THE  SURRENDBR  OF  BURGOYNE. 


177 


VETERAN  CORPS. 

George  B.  Fisher,  Captain. 


Wni.  B.  Ely,  ex  major. 
J.  C.  Parsons,  ex  major. 
A.  M.  Gordon. 
J.  B.  Russell,  Jr. 
Geo.  W.  Newton. 
A.  M.  Hurlbuit. 

D.  C.  Pond. 

E.  W.  Parsons. 
J.  M.  Grant. 

F.  E.  Bliss. 

N.  G.  Hinckley. 

Cyrenus  Green. 

M.  R.  West,  Judge  Advocate. 

H.  J.  Case. 


P.  S.  Riley. 
F.  H.  Boyle. 
T.     H.    Laughton,    Hartford 

Times. 
F.  C.  Clark. 
Edward  Wadsworth. 
Geo.  W.  Woolley. 
William  P.  Woolley. 
H.  C.  Havens. 
J.  D.  Burnham. 
A.  B.  Work. 
C.  C.  Goodman. 
T.  W.  Russell. 
John  Olmsted. 


fi 


SUBSCRIBERS  TO  THE  ME^IOIR. 


NAME. 

RE8IDKNCE 

. 

George  L.  Schuyler,  -    - 

-  New 

York 

City. 

Philip  Schuyler,     -        -    - 

u 

{( 

Montgomery  Schuyler,     - 

«t 

(( 

J.  Watts  1)ePkystku,     - 

(( 

K 

B.  W.  ThRO(  KMORTOX,    - 

(( 

{( 

John  H.  Si aiux,     - 

(( 

« 

Charles  O'Connor,  - 

(I 

(( 

Booth  Brothers, 

(t 

C( 

James  Grant  Wilson,     - 

({ 

<( 

Weiister  Wagner 

(( 

(( 

Parker  Handy, 

(( 

cc 

John  Bioelow,    - 

a 

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Algernon  S.  Sullivan,  - 

<( 

(( 

Manton  Mariu.e, 

(( 

(( 

J.  J.  Couch,     - .       - 

(( 

ii 

Edward  F.  DeLanoey, 

' 

« 

David  M.  Stonk, 

" 

(C 

C.  C.  Church, 

(( 

tt 

178 


Centennial  Cblebrat-ok  of 


|!i^^ 


j.  c.  m>  rich  am,     - 

Henky  Kiddle, 

John  G.  McNary, 

Samuel  Osgood, 

S.  S.  Cox,  .... 

Ethan  Allen, 

Frank  Burdge,   - 

J.  D.  Billings, 

Thomas  Williams, 

Horatio  Seymour, 

William  J.  Bacon, 

John  F.  Seymour,  - 

George  William  Curtis,  - 

Lafayette  S.  Foster,    - 

Mrs.  Mary  S.  Miller, 

A.  Austin  Yatbs,  - 

Co.  I,  Governor's  Foot  Guard, 

Giles  B.  Slocum, 

Stephen  D.  Kirk,  - 

RoKERT  S.  Hale, 

Asa  C.  Tekkt, 

Joseph  E.  King,  - 


New  xork  City. 


« 

(( 

^i 

(( 

(( 

.,« 

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(( 

(( 

(( 

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(( 

(( 

(( 

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(( 

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West  New  Brighton,  N.  Y. 
Norwich,  Conn. 
Rhinebeck,  N.   Y. 
Schsnectady,  N.  Y. 
Hartford,  Conn. 

Trenton,  Mich. 

Charleston,  S.  C. 
Elizahethtown,  N.  Y. 

Fort  Miller,  N.  Y. 

Fort  Edward,  N  Y. 


B.  C.  Butler,  -        -        .         - 

Luzerne,  N.  Y. 

William  H.  Clement, 

Morrow,  Ohio. 

Gratz  Van  Rensselaer, 

.  J.aca,N.  Y. 

S.  G.  Arnold, 

''  ovidence,  li.  I. 

J.  R.  Bartlet", 

n                   « 

L.  B,  Packard,     • 

New  Orleans,  La. 

0.  H.  Marshall, 

Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

James  B.  McKean, 

Salt  Lake,  Utah. 

John  Wooduridge,   - 

New   Brunswick,  N.  J. 

John  Hay,   .... 

Cleveland,  Ohio. 

Thomas  W.  Olcoit,     - 

Albany,  N.  Y. 

Henry  A.  Homes,    - 

It           (i 

Joel  Munsei.i.,    • 

M            ir 

George  W.  Schuyler,    - 

((            (( 

Rurus  W.  Clark, 

M               (« 

THE  Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


179 


on,  i\r.  IT. 


r. 


r. 


la. 


.v: ,/: 


H.  L.  Gladding, 

Lemon  Thomson, 

Abraham  Lansing,  - 

John  S.  Perry,    - 

Charles  S.  Lester, 

e.  f.  bullard, 

James  M.  Marvin,   - 

WiNsoR  B.  French, 

Joseph  G.  Cooke,    ... 

Philip  Menjes,     - 

W.  H.  Hall,     -        -        -         • 

H.  W.  Merrill,    - 

Miss  Wayland, 

Mrs.  Ellen  Hardin  Walworth, 

Mrs.  C.  H.  Brown, 

0.  L.  Barbour,         ... 
P.  C.  Ford,  ...        - 
A.  Welch,        .... 
G.  F.  Watson,       - 

C.  W.  Mayhew, 
Mrs.  Jane  M.  Marshall, 
Charles  M.  Bliss,    - 
F.  H.  Sands, 

1.  W.  Richards,        -        - 
George  West, 
George  G.  Scott, 
Apollo  Commandery,    - 
Francis  W.  Stone,     - 
Charles  D.  Stone, 
William  H.  Stone,     - 

R.  S.  Storrs,  .        -        -        - 
Col.  Clarence  S.  Bate,    - 


/.Ibant/,  jV.  Y. 


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Saratoga  Springs^  iV.  Y. 


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Schuyler  v\ 

'lie,  N. 

Y. 

(( 

({ 

ti 

{< 

(( 

(( 

(C 

(( 

Bennington,  Vt. 

«  (( 

White  Greek,  JST.  Y. 

Ballston  Spa,  JV.  Y. 

<(  «         <( 

Troy,  JV;  Y. 
Brooklyn,  iV!  Y. 


tf,  it 

tt  tt 

tt  tt 


Louisville,  Ky, 


180 


Centennial  Celebration. 


ERRATA. 

Page    5.    8th  line  from  bottom,  for  shoaling,  read  shooting. 

"      13.     4th  line  from  top,  for  Alomo,  read  Alanson. 

"      13.    7th  line  from  top,  for  Terry,  read  Ferry. 

•'      16.    4th  line  from  top,  for  Hasseit,  read  Fassett. 

"  16.  7tli  line  from  top,  for  Gates's  CentenniaVs,  read  Gates's  Conti- 
nentals. 

"     23.    T^ote,  2d  line  from  bottom,  for  Mann,  read  Marvin. 

"     23.    Last  line  of  text  for  sure,  read  serve. 

"  25.  3d  line  from  bottom  for  Clarence  S.  Bate,  read  Col.  Clarence  S. 
Bate. 


.^1 


INDEX. 


Gates's  Conti- 


hi.  Clarence  S. 


Abercrombie,  66, 146. 

Ackland,  Lady,  105,  109, 110. 

Ackland,  Major,  109. 

Adams,  C.  H.,27. 

Adams,  John,  67,  83. 

Adams,  Samuel,  10,  18,  83. 

Adkins,  Thos.  G.,30. 

Albany  Evening  Journal,  10. 

Allen,  A.  L.,  26. 

Allen,  Capt.  P.  F.,28,  29. 

Allen,  Ethan,  25,  71, 73 ;  letter  from, 
163. 

Allen,  Parson,  77. 

Ames,  G.  L.,  26. 

Amherst,  66,  72. 

Amsden,  Benj.  W.,  7. 

Andes,  Col.  F.  R.,  2,:*.  29. 

Andrews,  E.,  26. 

Andrews,  jr.,  Capt.  James  M.,  28 
29. 

Angell,  James  B.,  letter  trom,  168. 

Anbury,  Lieut.,  119. 

Apollo  Connnandory,  15. 

Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  133. 

Armstrong,  Maj.,  129,  130. 

Arnold,  Benedict,  58,  65,  T4,  77,  81, 
127,  128,  129,  130,  131,  132,  143, 
144,  150,  153,  154. 

Arnold,  Gen.,  97,  iOl. 

Arnold,  Hannaii,  her  letter,  132. 

Arnold,  S.  G.,  k'tter  from,  168. 

Arnold,  subject  of  B.  W.  Throck- 
morton's Address,  125. 

Atwell,  C.  H..  29. 

Atwell,  R.X..28.  29 


Bacon,  Wm.  J.,  letter  from  166. 

Bailey,  Rev.  A.  F.,  26. 

Balcarras,  Lord,  129, 13!. 

Ballston  Cornet  band,  15. 

Bancroft,  108. 128. 

Banks,  Mayor,  27. 

Barbour,  Hon.  O.  L.,26. 

Barker,  John  G.,  34. 

Barkley.  A.,  27. 

Barrett,  Col.  Wm.  Q.,  28,  29. 

Bartram,  Mrs.  Charles,  12. 

Bascom,  Lieut. ,  15. 

Bate,  Col.  Clarence  S.,  25  ;  letter 

from,  169.     . 
Baucus,  A.  B.,  26. 
Baum,  122. 

Bedle,  J.  D.,  letter  from,  171. 
Bemis's  Heights  celebration,  8. 
Bemis's  Heights,  gathering  at,  45. 
Bennett,  G.  H.,  29. 
Bennett,  N. ,  26. 
Bennington  celebration,  8,  14. 
Bennington,  gathering  at  45. 
Benningtcm  Park  Guards,  14. 
Betts,  R.  C.,27. 

Bigelow,  John,  letter  from,  185. 
Billings,  J.,  Jr.,  28. 
Blaine,  164. 

Blanchard,  Gen.  Joshua  S.,  26. 
Blanchard,  H.  T.,  28. 
Bliss,  V.  .\l.,25. 
Boak,  John  C. ,  34. 
Bockes,  Hon.  A.,  26. 
Booth     Brothers,     donate     corner 

stone,  19,  20. 


182 


Index. 


Boyce,  C,  26. 

Brackett,  Maj .  E.  T.,  28,  29. 

Bradley,  Joseph  P.,  letter  from,  104. 

Brisben,  0.,28. 

Brockett,  I.,  26. 

Brott,  S.  F.,  28. 

Brown,  Mrs.,  t;]2. 

Brudenell,  Mr.,  106,  110. 

Bryant,  William  CiiUen,  24;  letter 

from,  162. 
Buck,  Mrs.  Weslsy,  12. 
Buckley,  J.  S.,  IW. 
Bull,  Capt.  Jonathan,  14. 
Bull,  James,  14. 
KmII,  Isaac  D.,  14. 
Bull-.rd,  D.  A.,  23,  35. 
Bulhud,  E.  C,  28. 
Bullard,  Gen.   Edward  F.,  10,  24, 

35,161. 
Bullard,  E.  II.,  100. 
Burdiek,  R.  D.,  30. 
Burgoyne,  Jolin,  00. 
Burgoyne's  surrender,  influence  of, 

57. 
Burke,  Edmund,  68,  85. 
Burleigh  Corps,  15. 
Burton,  I.,  26. 
Butler,   Col.  B.  J.,  19,  27,   28,  2  >, 

31 ,  35,  101 ;  his  Star  Spangled 

B»  mer,  151. 


Campbell.  G.  TI.,  letter  from,  170. 
Canadian  allies,  deserlion  of,  117. 
Canning,  E.  W.  B.,  27;  letter  from, 

108. 
Carluut,  E.  M.,  29. 
Carieton,  General,  09,  79. 
Carr,  Gen.,  28. 
Catskillss  5. 

Chadwick,  S.  F.,  letter  from,  171. 
Chastellux,  Maniuis  de,  12,  21. 
Chatham,  Lord,  70,  137. 
Church,  Heiijainin,  05. 
Cilley,  133. 
Civic  procession,  10. 


Clark,  Rev.  Rufus  W.,   D.D.,  31; 

prayer  of,  38. 

Clark,  W.  B.,  20. 

Clarke,  Sir  Franclg,  129. 

Clement,  Wm.  II.,  25. 

Clements,  Albert,  10,  17,  157,  158, 
159. 

Clinton,  108,  117,  122. 

Clinton,  George,  05,  74,  80. 

Clinton,  Sir  Henry,  41,  70,  79,  80, 
83,  135. 

Clothier,  VV.  R.,  20. 

Clute,  C.,20. 

Cochran,  Col.,  112. 

Colburn,  Hon.  M.  S.,25. 

Cole,  N.,  27. 

Coil's  nulitary  band,  21. 

Connor,  Selden,  letter  from,  172. 

Consalus,  W.  B.,  20. 

Continental  cavalry,  21. 

Coolidge,  T.  S.,  27. 

Corey,  Samuel  F.,  28,  29. 

Corner  stone  laid,  18,  33,  34;  arti- 
cles deposited  In,  35. 

Cornwallis,  Lord,  08,  85. 

Couch,  J.  J.,  30,  31.33,34,  36. 

Couch,  J.  J.  Grand  Master,  address 
of,  37. 

<  '.).\,  S.  S.,lelter  from,  162. 

Cramer,  Hiram,  26,  157. 

Crane,  J.  W.,20. 

Craw,  D.,  29. 

Cumming.",  Rev.  Hooper,  158. 

Curtis,  F.  D.,2(!. 

Curtis,  Geo.  Wm.,  10,  19,  21,23,  25, 
81,  101;  oration  of,  03. 

Cushman,  J.  H.,  28. 


Darling.  E.,  20. 

Dawson,  Henry  B.,  25. 

Dean,  D.,  2!,'. 

Dean,  Rev.  G.  W.,  20. 

Dearborn,  133. 

Dearborn,  MaJ.  Henry,  110, 128. 129. 

DeLancey,  E.  F.,  25. 


Index. 


183 


Dennis,  C.  M,,  28. 
Dennis,  P.,  20. 
DcPeysler,  Fnulerick,  7. 
DePeyster,  Gen.  J.   W.,  7,  19,  iU, 

30 ;  ode  by,  14(!,  151. 
DePeysler,  Hon.  Frederick,  25. 
Derby,  Kiirl  of,  120. 
De  lienier,  John  A.,  ;J4. 
De  Riddor,  Brig.-<!en.,  158,  159. 
Do  Kidder,  J.  H.,  28. 
De  Soto  Coniniandery,  15. 
D'Estiiing,  Count,  187. 
I'^even.s,  CliurlcH,  letter  from,  104. 
Deyoe,  D.  H.,20. 
Deyoe,  J.  R.,  28. 
Dickernian,  Gen.,  28. 
Die.skau,  00. 

Dillcnbeck,  J.  S.,  28,  29. 
Dillenbeck,  Lieut.,  28,  29. 
Dillingham,  J.  U.,  29. 
Dodd,  F.,  20. 
Dodd,  II.,  27. 
Doolittle,  E.,28. 
Dunham,  Maj.  157. 
Dunmore,  Gov.,  155. 
Duryea,  Rev.  Mr.,  150. 
Dwyer,  J.,  20. 

Easton,  hospitality  of,  23. 

Eaton,  Lieut.  \V.  E.,  30. 

Eddy,  collection,  20. 

Editor's  note  on  Gen.  De  Peyster's 

ode,  149. 
Edmonds,  Geo.  P.,  letter  from,  107. 
Edwards,  E,,  20. 
Ellsworth,  E.  D.,  20. 
English,  R.,  20. 
Euos,  J.  B.,  20. 
Ensign,  G.  A.,  20. 
Evarts,  Wm.  M.,  letter  from,  104. 

Fairbanls,  Horace,  letter  from,  172. 
Fassett,  Major,  30. 
Fellows,  Colonel,  7. 
Fellows,  Gen.,  108,  112,  114. 


Field  of  the  Grounded  Arms,  19, 

123. 
Filkins,  J.  J.,  37. 
Finch,  .Terry,  27. 
Finch,  W.  P.,  29. 
Finne,  A.  L.,  20. 
Finnegan,  Rev.  II.  B.,  20. 
Fish,  Hon.  Hamilton,  25,  101. 
Fish,  F.,  27. 
Fitch,  Wm.  E..  34. 
Flag-pole,  great  height  of,  9. 
Flagler,  Benj.,  34. 
Fletcher,  Lieut.,  28,  29. 
Fonblanque,  111,  121, 
Fonda,  Sir  Townsend,  30, 
Ford,  P.  C,  101. 

Fort  Hardy,  42  ;  remains  of,  30. 
Fort  Saratoga,  7. 
Foster,  Hon.  Lafayette  8.,  31. 
Foster,  e.\-Senator,   10,  17,  19,  23 ; 

his  address,  90. 
Fox,  Charles,  85. 
Francis,  J.  M.,  27. 
Franklin,  Benjamin,  53,  70. 
Franklin,  Dr.,  137. 
Eraser,  Gen.,  80,  81,  83,   105,106, 

110,  128,  103. 
French,  Capt.  W,  VV.,  28,  29. 
French,  Gen.  W.  B.,  28,  29;  grand 

marshal,  10. 
Fronteuac,  00. 
Fursnmn,  E.  L.,  27,  33, 

Gall,  110. 

Gansevoort,  101. 

Gates,  Edwin,  34. 

Gates,  Gen.,  53,  78,  79,  81,  82,  83, 
84,101,  107,  108,  110,  112,  113, 
114,  117,  118,  119,  120,  121,  132, 
120,  129,  130,  147, 

Gates,  148,  152,  153,  154,  156. 

Gates's  Continentals,  10. 

George  HI,  style  of,  14. 

Gerard,  M.,  137. 

Germaine,  121, 

Gibbon,  85. 


184 


Index. 


Gibson,  James,  34. 

Gibson,  J.  Jr.,  27. 

Oilmour,  N.,  20. 

Gladding,  II.  L.,  10,  21,  31  ;  address 

of,  133. 
Qleesettle,  Capt.,  15,30. 
Glover,  112,  133. 
Goodalc,  Capt.,  113. 
Gordon,  H.,  27. 
Gordon.  Rev.  Wm.,  \m. 
Governor's  foot  guard,  20. 
Gow,  F.,28. 

Grand  Lodge  of  New  Yorlt,  15,  18. 
Gray,  Dr.,  28,  29. 
Green,  Capt.  A.  H.,  0,  28,  29. 
Green  mountain,  5. 
Greene,  A.  M.,  28. 
Greenwicli  delegation,  10. 
Grippen,  B.  B.,  26. 
Grippen,  M.  B.,28. 
Grose,  H.  L.,  27. 
Guiles,  I.  W.,  26. 


Hale,  Hon.  Robert   S.,  25  ;   letter 

from,  169. 
Hall,  Capt.  Thos.,  30. 
Hall,  ex-Gov.  Hiland,  25,  35. 
Hall,  J.,  26. 

Hall,  Surgeon  Wm.  H.,  28,  29. 
Halleck,  Fitz  Greene,  19;  his  poem, 

122. 
Hamilton,  116,  118. 
Handy,   Parker,   25 ;    letter   fropi, 

163. 
Hannum,  J.  0.,28. 
Hardin,  Col.  John,  155, 156. 
Hardin,  Martin,  155. 
Harnage,  Major,  105. 
Harris,  Dr.  N.  C,  28,  29. 
Harris,  H.  M.,  27. 
Hartford  Governor's  Foot  Guards, 

14. 
Hartranft,  J.  F,,  letter  from,  170. 
Hascall,  Lieut.  S.  E.,  30. 
Hassett,  Maj.  T.  S.,  16. 


Hay,  Col.  John,  25. 

Ileminway,  R.  A.,  28,  29. 

Henry,  Patrick,  65. 

Herkimer,  37,  65,  76,  101. 

IlilLs  of  our  country,  inllueuce  of, 

52. 
Hoar,  Geo.  F.,  letter  from,  107. 
Ilotfman,  e.\-Gov.,  25. 
Ilolden,  Sir  Cluirles  H.,  15,  30. 
llollistcr,  E.  W.,  20. 
Holmes,  Ebenezer,  28,  29. 
Holmes,  H.  C.,28. 
Holmes,  O.  W.,  letter  from,  107. 
Holy  Cross  Commandery,  15. 
Homes,  H.  A.,  21,  23;  letter  from, 

165. 
Hoole,  John,  34. 
Houghton,  N.  M.,  20. 
Howe,  121,  122. 

Howe,  Col.  E.  P.,  19,  28,  29,31,  88. 
Howe,  Gen.,  53,  08,  70,  71,  76,  78 

79,  83,  135. 
Hudson,  Mrs.  Joseph,  12, 
Hughes,  Gen.  Chas.,  28. 
Hughes  Light  Guards,  15. 
Hubbard,  R.  D.,  letter  from,  170. 
Huling,  E.  J.,  27. 
Hunter,  ex-Mayor,  27. 


Indian  allies,  importance  of,  55. 
Indians,  deserted,  117. 
Ingalsbee,  M.  J.,  27. 
Ingersoll,  R.  G.,  letter  from,  169. 
Ingerson,  C.  E.,  28. 


Jay,  John,  05,  07. 

Jefferson,  150. 

Johnson,  147. 

Johnson,  A.  G.,  27. 

Johnson,  D.  J.,  27. 

Johnson,  Dr.,  85,  99. 

Johnson,  Sir  John,  65. 

Johnson,  Sir  William,  54,  06,  67, 

loa. 


Index. 


185 


Judson,  B.  F.,  15,  30,  28,  39,  30. 
Jiulson,  Etlmond  L.,  31,  34. 

Kapp,  Hon.  Frederick,  149. 

Kayndcrosscras,  5. 

Keenan,  John,  37. 

Kemper,  .Tames,  L.,leUer  from,  173. 

Key,  D.  M.,  letter  from,  104. 

Koyes,  A.  A. ,  37. 

Kiddle,  Henry,  letter  from,  1G3. 

Killiiigton  Commandery,  15. 

Kilmer,  C.  B.,  30. 

King  George,  00,  71,  85, 137. 

King  Henry  V,  133. 

King  John,  141. 

King,  Rev.  J.  E.,  26,  31 ;  prayer  by, 

100. 
King,  Rufus,  78. 
Kingstim,  Lieut.  Uol.,  83. 
Kirk,  Gideon,  160. 
Kirk,  Stephen  D..  19,  35,  32,  153; 

gift  of  badges,  10  ;  letter  of,  100. 
Kline.  A.  W.,  37. 
Knickerbacker,  H.,  36. 
Knickerbacker,  J. ,  87. 
Knights  Templar,  15. 
Kosciusko,  78, 133. 


La  Fayette,  80. 

Lafayette  Commandery,  15. 

Luing,  G.  P,,9,  39. 

Lamb,  D.  T..2fl. 

L'Anioreaiix,  J.  L.,35. 

Latimer,  Col.,  97,  98. 

Lauderdale,  Lord,  131. 

Lawrence,  S.  R  ,  38. 

Learned,  Gen.,' 113,  133. 

Lee,  Charles,  69. 

Leister,  151. 

Lester,  Hon.  Charles  S.,  18,  19,  30, 

21,24,  30,31,  38;  introductory 

address  of,  40. 
Lester,  Judge,  30,  96. 
Lester,  J.  W.,  28.  39. 


Lewis,  Morgan,  84,  101. 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  101,  104,  183. 

Lippe,  Count,  70. 

Lippitt,  Henry,  letter  from,  171. 

Little,  M.  B.,37. 

Little  Falls  Commandery,  15. 

Lober,  K.  VV.,36. 

Livingston,  Hobert,  05. 

Longfellow,  Henry  W.,  letter  from, 

167. 
Lossinjf,  Benson  J.,  19,  33,  130, 130, 

154;  his  letter,  153. 
Louis  XVI,  137. 
Lovatt,  Earl  of,  100. 
Lovelace,  157. 
Liidington,  H.,  letter  from,  172. 

MacCrea,  Jane,  76. 

Magaw,  Col.,  134. 

Mansfield,  Mr,  132. 

Marble,  Manton,  35 ;  letter  from,  162. 

Markham,  J.  C,  35. 

Marvin,  James  M.,  33. 

Marvin,  Hon.  .lames  M.,  26. 

Marshall,  F.  K.,  20. 

Marshall,  H.,  39. 

Marshall,  Mrs.  Jane  M.,  13. 

Marshall,  Miss  Jennie,  12. 

Marshall  house,  30. 

.Marshall,  O.  H..  35  ;  letter  from,  168. 

Masonic  division,  30;  ceremonies 

30,  37. 
Master  Masons,  15. 
Matthews,  John,  35. 
Matthews,  Samuel,  35. 
Mayhew,  C.  W.,  11. 
McArthur,  J.  L.,  28. 
McClellan,  Geo.  B.,  letter  from,  171. 
McConihe,  S.,  27. 

McCrary,  Geo.  W.,  letter  from,  164. 
McCreary,   James  B.,  letter  from, 

170. 
McCreedy,  S.,  28,  39. 
McCreedy,  Wm.  H.,  17. 
McDonald,  L.  G.,  27. 


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Index. 


McDougall,  134. 

McElroy,  Mr.,  10. 

McFarland,  James,  25. 

McKean,  James  B.,  letter  from,  169. 

McKean,  S.,  26. 

McNary,  John  G. ,  letter  from,  166. 

NcNaughtoii,  C.  H.,  28,  29. 

McNaughton,  F.,  29. 

McRea,  H.  A.,  28. 

Mead,  P.,  26. 

Merritt,  E.  A..,  letter  from,  162. 

Middle  Falls  delegation,  10. 

Miller,  W".  R.,  letter  from,  170. 

Mingay,  R.,  Jr.,29. 

Military  companies,  29. 

Montcalm,  72. 

Montgomery,  68,  102? 

Morgan,  78,  80,  112,  113,  114,  115, 

128,  129, 130,  133,  142. 
Morgan,  Capt.  Jack,  155. 
Morgan,  Capt.  Daniel,  156. 
Morehouse,  H.  C. ,  27. 
Morris,  Gouverneur,  65. 
Morris,  H.  D.,  28. 
Molt,  J.,  27. 
Mozart  band,  15. 
Munsell,  Joel,  25. 
Murphy,  Mayor,  37. 

Neilson,  G.  W.,  26,  152. 
Nixon,  112,  113. 
North,  Lord,  85,  117. 
Norl.irop,  J.  M.,  27. 
Northumberland,  hospitality  of,  23. 
Noyes,  S.  Jr.,  26. 

O'Conner,  Hon.  Chas.,  24. 
Olcott,  Thomas  W.,  25. 
Oriskany  celebration,  8. 
Oriskany,  gathering  at,  45. 
Osborn,  J.,  26. 

Osgood,  Samuel,  letter  from,  162. 
Ostrander,  W.  P.,  29. 
Oswald,  Capt.,  182. 
Otis,  James,  65. 
Owen,  Hiram,  28,  29. 


Packard,  S.  B.,  letter  from,  172. 

Page,  ex-Gov.  John  B.,  25/ 

Palmateer,  R.  L.,  27. 

Palmer,  A.,  26. 

Park  Guard  band,  14. 

Parker,  Albert,  34. 

Parker,  H.,  26. 

Parker,  Sir  Peter,  160. 

Parker,  Theodore,  150. 

Porkman,  F.,  letter  from,  168. 

Parnienter,  J.  B.,  27. 

Parson,  Maj.  J.  C.,21. 

Patterson,  113. 

Patterson,  Capt.  A.  A.,  28,  39. 

Paul,  Chas.  F.,  29. 

Pease,  A.  S.,  27. 

Peck,  Col.  C.  T.,28,  39. 

Peck,  J.,  26. 

Pennock,  Lieut.,  28,  29. 

Perry,  John  S.,  letter  from,  165. 

Petersham,  Adj.  Gen.,  116. 

Phelps,  Lt.  Gov.  E.  J.,  35;    leuer 

from,  167. 
Phillips,  80, 105,  107,  108,  111,  115, 

118,  130. 
Piatt,  132. 
Poor,  133. 

Potter,  D.  L.,  13,  28,  39. 
Potter,  President,  25. 
Preston,  Dr.,  26. 
Pruden,  O.  L.,  letter  frc^i.  164. 
Procession,  route  of,  11. 
Proctor,  Lt.  Gov.  Redfield  S.,  25. 
Pruyn,  J.  V.  L.,35. 
Putnam,  83, 134. 

Quackenbush,  J.  A.,  37. 

Raymond,  E.,  36. 

Red  coats  of  Burgoyne,  14. 

Reigart,  John  i\I.,  letter  from,  171. 

Relic  tent,  20. 

Revere,  Paul,  65. 

Revolutionary  barrack,  18. 

Rice,  R.  W.,  39. 


Index. 


187 


Richards,  Stephen  H.,  26. 
Richmond,  Dulie  of,  85,  137. 
Riggs,  Maj.  W.  J.,  28,  29. 
Riedesel,    Baroness,    75,   109,  111, 

112,  115,  IIG,  119. 
Hiedesel,  Gen.,  72,  80,  107,  108, 114, 

115,  116,  119,  118. 
Riedesel,  Mrs.,  refuge  house  of,  20. 
Riley,  John  M.,  34. 
Ritchie,  Col.,  19,  20,  27,  32,  152. 
Roberts,  Daniel,  letter  from,  168. 
Roberts,  Ellis  H.,  25 ;  letter  from, 

166. 
Roberts,  William,  160. 
Robinson,  Capt.  George,  28,  29. 
Robinson  Gov.,  30. 
Robinson's,  Gov. ,  staff,  23. 
Rochefoucauld-Liancourt,  Duke  de, 

148. 
Rockwell,  C,  26. 
Rockwell,  W.  W.,  27. 
Rodgers,  Col.  Hiram,  28,  29. 
Rogers,  Capt. ,  26. 
Root,  Hon.  Henry  G.,  25. 
Route  of  march,  31. 
Russell,  S.  W.,27. 

St.  George  Commandery,  15. 
St.  Leger,  76,  77,  101,  122,  147. 
Sanford,  C,  27. 

Saratoga  Centennial  Cavalry,  16. 
Saratoga  Monumeut,  5,  60. 
Saratoga  Springs,  distance  of,  7,  9. 
Saratoga  delegation,  8. 
Saratogian,  24. 
Satterlee,  Gregory,  34. 
Schurz,  C,  letter  from,  164. 
•Schuyler,  133,  146,   147,    152,   153, 

154. 
Schuyler,  Gen.,  21,  42,  59,  GO,   72, 

74,   75,   78;    bearing    of,    59, 

neighbors  of,  17. 
Schuyler,  Gen.  Philip,  104,  110,  111, 

119,  120,  122. 
Schuyler,    George  L.,   16,  23,    24 ; 

letter  from,  162. 


Schuyler.  Hon.  George  "W.,  19,21, 
31 ;  his  address,  150. 

Schuyler,  Maj.  Gen.,  157, 158. 

Schuyler,  Philip,  24, 158,  159. 

Schuylerville,  5,  6,  7. 

Schuylerville  Cornet  band,  15. 

Schuylerville  Standard,  12. 

Scidmore  H.,  26. 

Scott,  G.  G.,26. 

Scott,  William,  34. 

Sears,  Capt.,  132. 

Seelye,  N.  J.,  28. 

Seventy-seventh  regiment  band,  15. 

Seymour,  Hon.  Horatio.  16,  19 
21,23,31,132,161,  164;  resol- 
ution of,  19  ;  address  of,  43. 

Seymour,  John  F. ,  25  ;  letter  from 
167. 

Shelburn,  Lord,  138. 

Sheldon,  F.,  28. 

Sheldon,  H.  S.,  26. 

Sherman,  Augustus,  27. 

Sherman,  T.  H.,  letter  froia,  164. 

Sherman,  W.  A.,  26. 

Shurter,  J.  W  ,  26. 

Simmons,  E.  F.,  35. 

Slocum,  Giles  B.,  19.  CS,  32,  152  ; 
letter  from,  157. 

Smarl,  J.  S.,27. 

Smith,  C.E.,  27. 

Smith,  J.  T.,28. 

Smith,  J.  W.,27. 

Smith,  Mrs.  Geo.  W.,  12. 

Smith,  W.  H.,  28. 

South  Glen's  Falls  Guards,  15. 

Soulherland,  Lieut.  Col.,  108. 

Stark,  Geu.,  John,  74,  77,  101,   114, 

143. 
Starin,   Hon.  John  H.,  25 ;    letter 

from,  162. 

Star  Spangled  Banner,  19. 

St.  Clair,  Gen.,  72,  73,  74. 

Sterling,  65. 

Stevens,  John  Austin,  35. 

Stewart,  e.x-Gov.  John  W. ,  25. 

Stillman,  S.  L.,  26,34. 


188                                    Index. 

Stone,  David  M.,  letter  from,  163. 

Valentine,  Maj.,  A.  B.,25. 

Stone,  J.  M.,  letter  fiorn,  170. 

Valleys  of  our  country,  influence 

Stone,  W.  L.,  37,  31,  33,  35, 104, 148, 

of,  50. 

■                                 ^        151,  152,  155 ;  his  address,  19 ; 

Van  Demark,  L.,26,  28,  29. 

letter  from,  161 ;  poem  read  by, 

Van  Doren,  D.  K.,  19,  26,  31, 146. 

151. 

Van  Scha^ck  J.  A.,  26. 

Stonehouse,  Gen.  J.  B.,  30. 

Van  Zandt,  Chas.  C,   letter  from. 

Storrs,  R.  S.,  letter  from,  163. 

171. 

Street,  Alfred  B.,   16. 19,  21,  23,  31, 

Varick,  Col.,152. 

1                                           161 ;  poem  of,  88. 

Varick,  Miss  A.,  132. 

Strover,  George,  16,  17,  21,26,157. 

Veterans,  with  Kossuth  hats,  14. 

Sullivan,  Hon.  Algernon  S.,  32. 

Victory  mills,  hospitality  of,  23. 

1                                    Sutfin,  R,  29. 

^                                  Sweet,  T.,  29. 

Waite,  A.  D.,  26. 

Sylvester,  N.B.,  35. 

Waite,  M.  R.,  letter  from,  165. 

Walker,  Capt.,  14,  29. 

Walpole,  Horace,  70. 

Talcott,  Maj.  W.  H . ,  14,  21,  22,  29. 

Waltermeyer,  158. 

Talleyrand,  131 . 

Walworth,  Mrs.  Ellen  H.,  19. 

Taylor,  Bayard,  letter  from,  163. 

Walworth,  Mrs.  Ellen  Hardin  Visi- 

Taylor, Gen.  A.  H.,  30. 

tor's  Guide,  32,  35. 

Tefft,  W.  H.,26. 

Walworth,  Mrs.  Ellen  Hardin,  158; 

Tefft  Commandery,  15. 

letter  from,  152,  155. 

Temple  Coramuadery,  15. 

Ward,  John,  158.                               • 

Ten  Broeck,  81, 133. 

Warren,  Joseph,  65,  67. 

Thomas,  Capt.,  28,  29. 

Washburn,  C.  E.,29. 

Thomas,  Gen.,  146. 

Washington  commandery,  15. 

<.                                    Thomas,  Wm.  H.,  25. 

Washington,  Geo.,  56,  60,  65,  68, 

Thompson,  H.,  26. 

74,  78,  83,  84,  85,  86,  120,  126, 

Thomson,  L.,  27. 

127,  134,  150. 

Thorn,  S.,  25. 

Waterbury,  W.  S.,  27. 

Throckmorton,  B.  W.,  19,  21,  23, 

Watson,  G.  F.,  11,  28. 

25,  31, 125;  his  address,  125. 

Wayland,  Dr.,  162. 

Ticonderoga,  fall  of,  73. 

Wayne,  134. 

Tice,  W..26. 

Webster,  Rev.  John  G.,  34. 

Toohey,  T.,  29. 

Webster,  Mr. ,  14o. 

Topography  of  our  country,  iuflu- 

Weed,  S.  M.,  27. 

i «,                                          ence  of,  47. 

Weidman,  Capt.  George  D.,  14,  29. 

^     \                           Torrey,  S.  H.,  26. 

Welch,  A.,  28,  29. 

Tovvnseud,   Franklin,  letter    from. 

Welch,  Alanson,  35. 

.                                             165. 

Welch,  Alonzo,  7,  13. 

Townsend,  M.  S.,  27. 

West,  G.,  26. 

Tracy,  Capt.,  6. 

Wheeler,  P.  S.,  28,  29. 

Tripp,  J.,  26. 

Whipple,  74. 

Troy,  battery  B.,  6,  7. 

Whisky  from  buckwheat  and  pota 

Troy  police,  10. 

• 

toes,  17. 

.,25. 

try,  influence 

28,  29. 

,  26,  31, 146. 

,  letter  from, 


ith  hats,  14. 
ility  of,  23. 

rom,  165. 


iH.,19. 

a  Hardin  Visi- 

1  Hardin,  158; 
5. 


dery,  15. 

6,  60,  65,  68, 

,  86,  120,  126, 


.,34. 


>rge  D.,  14,  29. 


leat  and  pota 


